Solar power is the largest renewable energy source worldwide, and it is continually growing. With 120,000 terawatts of solar power entering the earth daily, there is much energy to work with for commercial and residential energy resources. There can be quite a bit of knowledge needed when it comes to using solar energy. There is still potential for much more growth over the coming decades, especially in the help to reduce the carbon footprint we leave on the earth.
Understanding Solar Power and How It Works
There is often a great deal of fear with the potential of the residential solar panel to provide a valuable amount of energy in the home on a regular basis. With many times of year made up of short days, as well as the rainy seasons where the sun is not out very much, consumer concern exists for the quality of solar panels. So, there are a number of details about these systems to remember when considering the choice of residential solar panels, or commercial solar energy as well.
The Potential for Using Solar Energy in the Home
Considering the greatest energy waste to be in the heating and cooling of your home, with over half of utility bills spent on heating and cooling, an investment in solar power for HVAC is a good cost reduction option. Heat can be gained and lost at rates up to 30% during different seasons, increasing the amount of energy that is wasted through running the heating and cooling systems.
Installation of Solar Panels and the Use of Solar Energy
Many technological developments have come regarding solar and other renewable energy systems. Luckily, product, installation, and service costs of solar energy are reducing consistently. These means that solar panel installation has increased greatly over the past two decades, with the potential for continued growth in this industry. Solar companies are generating residential solar panels, and with the increased research and proof of the benefits solar energy the market has increased.
Existing Use of Residential Solar Panels
With over a million homes in the United States already using solar panels for energy, there is much to consider with the benefit this has on the power grid. Some of the numbers of existing homes with solar panels installed include:
- Solar installation has been completed for about 1.3 million American homes.
- Solar and wind power systems have a 100 times extended lifetime energy yield over standard energy systems.
- Reduced prices and installation costs have led to a 20% increase in using solar energy use over the past 15 years.
With the benefit of sustainability to the earth and everyone’s lives, there is much to consider in regard to using solar energy. It not only reduces the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but also helps to eliminate the troublesome aspects of mining for oil and other fossil fuels. Though many politicians and others battle the effect of solar power on the power grid, as well as those who don’t use solar energy, there is much to be said for the amount of additional power that is generated, the fact that it can be stored, and eventually combined for the benefit of an overall renewable energy source for all communities.