Engineer helping out Buildings Guide Kits with their engineering needs. Solar panels convert natural sunlight into energy. When the light of the sun hits the solar panels it is converted into electrical currents through a photovoltaic system. The solar cells in the panel harness electron emissions and turn them into currents that are used to generate energy.
Solar Panels
Solar panels built for the home or your metal building turn the thermal energy from the sun into electricity to power everything in the home. There are do-it-yourself home solar kits that a person can purchase, as well as kits that teach how to make the actual solar panels. Solar energy is becoming popular for homes, as they are supposed to save the homeowner money in energy costs, and hopefully generate enough energy that the home owner can sell it back to their local energy supplier.
Installing home solar panels is not as simple as putting up the panels. Other equipment is also required, such as a converter to transfer the energy for use in the home. A battery storage and backup system is also required so that the system can still operate when it is cloudy for several days. Most homes use alternating current, so an inverter is required so that the system can produce direct current. Understanding how the solar panels actually work in the home is important for the do-it-yourself person installing the panels.
Pros of Home Solar Panels
Many people install solar panels in their homes as a way to supplement their current energy usage, not replacing their source of home energy. There are some direct benefits realized even when using the solar panels as a compliment to energy systems.
- Savings on energy bills – some customers who use the solar panels as a supplemental system report savings of up to 50 percent on their energy consumption. When using the solar panels as the only energy source the ideal is to get to the point where there are no energy bills due, and enough energy is generated to sell back to the local energy source.
- Energy credits – this occurs when the solar panels end up producing more energy than the homeowner uses. The energy meter will begin to spend backwards when excess energy is being created.
- Less maintenance – once the solar panels are installed there are no more maintenance costs related to keeping equipment cleaned and updated. Most solar panels will come with warranties from the manufacturer for up to 20 year s and more. Ensuring the panels are installed correctly and have no leaks, and managing the backup system may require maintenance.
- Consumption savings – solar panels do not require any fuel in order to generate energy. Savings on the cost of fuel can be significant if the panels are the sole source of energy.
- Pollution free – everyone is concerned about living green, and solar panels do not pollute the air with carbon or sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide. No fuel emissions are released as the panels do not burn fuel.
- Renewable energy – solar panels do not run out of energy so saves natural resources such as coal and oil, as well as natural gas. (other types of renewable energy)
- Quiet operation – there are no moving parts to solar panels, so the operation is quiet.
Cons of Home Solar Panels
While there are many benefits to installing a solar panel system in the home, there are also cons, or negatives about the panels. The biggest detraction of the system is cost.
- Cost – the initial cost for the solar system can be up to $20,000, and then the cost of the actual panels can raise the price to over $75,000 depending on the size of the home. That is a lot of money to get started. Even home kits can be expensive, as the solar system does not come included in the kits. There could be incentives and rebates for installing solar panels, but the cost can still be high. Energy cost savings are immediately recognized, but it will take several years before the initial investment pays off.
- Solar Panels – in order for the solar panels to reach maximum effectiveness they need to be large. The home must have enough space on the roof to accommodate the large panels. The panels are not very attractive to some people, so neighbors may not be too happy about how the panels affect the appearance of the neighborhood.
- Climate - the solar power depends on the sun being bright, so when the skies are cloudy or if there is an abundance of pollution in the air the amount of energy generated will be affected. No energy is generated during nighttime hours, so the backup energy system will be important until enough energy is built into reserves. Some areas of the country receive more sunlight than others, so the variations in climate will determine how much energy is generated from the panels.
- DIY Kits – there are do-it-yourself solar panel installation kits that can be purchased so that money can be saved on the panels. The general consensus is that you get what you pay for, so purchasing inexpensive panels will result in the person not realizing the efficiency they may have been expecting.
There are many more benefits than negatives when considering home solar panels, but the biggest negative will be the cost of the total system. Determining how much money will be saved will depend on the individual energy usage.
Cost Savings from Home Solar Panels
The first consideration for installing home solar panels is to determine if the initial cost will be worth the investment. A person planning to sell their home in a couple of years might want to wait before installing the panels, as the cost savings are not apparent for several years. For instance, if installing a solar panel system in a four-bedroom home will cost around $30,000, it may take up to six years to begin seeing significant savings.
Another way of looking at the cost is to figure out the monthly utility bills for the home. If a person is paying electric bills of $200 per month, over 25 years they will have paid $80,000. Installing solar panels at a cost of $30,000 will result in a savings of 50,000 over that period of time. However, a person will have to stay in their home for at least 13 years before realizing any true savings. In today’s mobile lifestyle where people often have to go where the jobs are, making sure that firm roots are established in an area is important when considering installing home solar panels.
Overall, home solar panels are a great way to help reduce a family’s footprint on the earth. The panels significantly reduce energy costs and the total negative effects of generating that energy. The sun does not cost anything and is a clean source of energy. Solar heating panels are becoming more popular for larger and smaller businesses, and the cost of installing a system is coming down. That will make it more convenient and cost-effective for the average home owner who wants to contribute to the greening of their community.
Installing home solar panels should be considered a long-term solution instead of a quick-fix. Additional panels can be added to a system as energy reserves begin to build, and adding the panels helps spread the cost to a more manageable solution. Solar energy is sustainable, clean and does not damage the environment.