solar panels guide

Table of Contents


  I. Introduction

     a. How Solar Panels Work
     b. Future of Solar Panels
  II. Why Solar Panels?
     a. Global Benefits
     b. Personal Benefits
  III. Types of Solar Panels
     a. Types
     b. Efficiency
  IV. Grid Tie & Off Grid
     a. Grid Tie
     b. Off The Grid
  V. How Many Solar Panels?

     a. Reducing Electricity Usage
     b. Figuring Out How Many

  VI. How to Find Best Price
    a. Best Price
    b. Payback Estimate
  VII. Pre Installation
    a. Permits
  VIII. Installation
    a. Ground Mounted Panels
    b. Roof Mounted
    c. Thin Film
    d. Where to Face Solar Panels
  IX. Apply For Rebates
    a. Finding and Submitting
  X. Maintenance
    a. Upkeep
    b. Testing Panels
  XI. Feedback & Questions
  XII. Solar Vocabulary

 

   BOOKMARK

II. Why Solar Panels?

There are many challenges that come along with the scarce resources that are currently being used for our electricity supply and solar panels are one of the answers to overcoming these challenges we are facing.

Solar Panel Global Benefits

Aside from the fact that your electricity bill will always continue to rise unless you make a change, there are more important factors that come into play and I'll outline a couple for you.

-Solar Panels do not contribute to global warming, as it does not contaminate the air by releasing carbon dioxide or other pollutants. The fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gases that are being used for our electricity emit 10.3 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 3.9 million tons of nitrogen oxides, 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide, and over 50 tons of mercury a year. Not only is this dangerous for the environment but it's a danger to your health because these emissions are toxic. Every single year the emission of these gases rise considerably. Fossil fuel electricity generation is responsible for 36% of the country's emissions of carbon dioxide and the single largest contributor to global warming. (Statistics taken from the Official Energy Statistics from the US Government; http://www.eia.doe.gov/)

-Over its 35-year expected life, a 10 kW solar panel system will provide the equivalent CO2 reduction as planting 1450 trees. (Based on typical utility pollution) It will produce 575,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, as much as would be generated by burning 583,000 lbs of coal.

-Solar Panels are the most cleanest source of alternative Energy. There is absolutely zero pollution to the environment, which makes a better way of living for your children and generations beyond.


Solar Panel Personal Benefits

-It's free renewable energy unlike the source that is powering your current power supply. As long as the sun as around, you can take advantage of completely free energy.

-Slash your electricity and fuel bills by great numbers or get rid of them completely.

-According to a recent survey by California Solar Institute, for every $1 of savings from your energy bill annually, you get an increase of $20 in your home value. Hence, this means that a savings of $1500 or more will equate to an increase of $30,000 in your home sale value.

-A bill was just passed that provides people who purchase solar panels to take advantage of great tax credits, so when you buy solar panels, you automatically get a nice chunk of change taken off the cost right away.

-Once the initial cost of purchasing the panels are paid in full, the electricity it produces for the remainder of the system's lifespan, which is decades, is absolutely free!

-Solar panels make it possible to live off-grid, which means living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. With the advent of global climate change, it has become more important that we do whatever we can to reduce the pressure on our atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gases.

-For people who have their solar panels tied in with the utility company, the benefits begin from the moment the system comes online, potentially eliminating monthy electric bills or, and this is the best part, actually earning the system's owner additional income from the electric company. If you use less power than your solar electric system produces, that excess power can be sold, sometimes at a premium, to your electric utility company. So, let’s say you’ve got some solar power panels up on your roof for the summer but you decide to go on and take a vacation for a month. All the power that is being generated gets credited to your account. At the end of the year, if you use as much power as you feed back into the grid, your power bill is negligible.

-No more spoiling your food due to power outages

-The use of solar energy for homes and businesses can help reduce transport of fuel that would otherwise be used for heating, further reducing carbon emissions.

 

Part III. Types of Solar Panels--> 

   

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