Home Solar Power

Solar power has received much media attention in recent years as a possible alternative to burning fossil fuels for energy. Solar power can be simply defined as the manipulation of heat and light energy from the sun for directed use. Many publications including magazines like Scientific American and Popular Mechanics have posited that solar power could be the answer to, or at least part of the answer to, the global energy crisis. Ordinary people all around the world have even taken the first step toward making this a reality by outfitting different aspects of their homes with solar power. However most people lack the background knowledge about solar energy to make informed decisions as to how it can be applied in their home. The fact is that there are many ways that solar power can be used around the house, and the ways in which one individual uses it may depend on factors that are different from those considered by other individuals. One must first consider whether one’s primary goal is to save money, to reduce their carbon footprint, or a combination of the two. There are three main ways in which solar power can be used in the home, and these different considerations bear in different ways upon them.

The first way in which solar power can be used in the home is to heat water. Conventional water heaters use electricity or gas and the consumer ends up paying for every last drop of water he or she heats. Solar water heaters are now available that heat a home’s water using nothing but solar energy. This means that the consumer is no longer charged on a per-unit basis for heating water. Solar water heaters are great options for those looking to save money and help the environment. Most solar water heating systems will pay for themselves within only a few years while reducing gas and electricity consumption.

Solar power is a no-brainer for people with heated swimming pools. While some may argue that you don’t really need a heated swimming pool during the summer, environmental considerations become moot if you use solar swimming pool heating. These systems are extremely cost effective and will pay for themselves within the first one or two years. If you have a heated swimming pool and are looking to save some money, solar swimming pool heating is an obvious choice.

Finally there is the option of converting all of your home’s electricity needs to solar. While this would be a dream come true for many people (no electrical or heating bills!) the cost can be prohibitive to some. Presently prices can range anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 to retrofit a house to run entirely on solar. While this will result in long-term savings, many people are not financially able to undertake these up-front costs. However, if you are on the verge of building a new home, or have a large sum of money available for renovations, converting your house to solar power should certainly be a consideration.

Want to Start Making Solar Power at Home? Check out these instructions for building your own solar power. Includes videos, ebook, diagrams, and all the plans you need to get off the power grid and start saving some green while going green.

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