Clean Energy: How to Harness Solar Power for Your Home
Here is a mini guide on solar energy and its advantages and disadvantages
The sun has long been the object of worship and poetry – it provides light and warmth, and influences the earth’s climate and weather. Lately we humans have discovered more reason to love the sun: it is also a mega powerhouse of ‘green’ energy that can cut down on the use of conventional electricity (often produced in polluting ways) and cut down our electricity bills, as well. The sun continuously radiates light, which can be converted into electricity through solar panels. Its heat can be be transferred to water through solar water heaters. In recent years, solar power has been gradually catching the interest of many homeowners, because it is a great way to go green and reduce the carbon footprint of one’s home. There has been significant advancement in solar panel technology, which has made solar power systems more efficient and affordable for both residential and commercial use.
Here is a mini guide that will tell you more about solar panels.
Here is a mini guide that will tell you more about solar panels.
How does a solar panel work?
Each solar panel comprises a collection of solar (photovoltaic) cells that are arranged in the form of a grid. These panels are placed on metal frames that are installed outdoors. Electricity is produced by the ‘photovoltaic effect’ which includes the following steps.
Each solar panel comprises a collection of solar (photovoltaic) cells that are arranged in the form of a grid. These panels are placed on metal frames that are installed outdoors. Electricity is produced by the ‘photovoltaic effect’ which includes the following steps.
- The sunlight hits the solar panels.
- The panels convert the sunlight into DC (direct current), which flows to an inverter.
- The inverter converts electricity from DC to AC (alternating current), which can be used to power the home.
What are the advantages of installing a solar panel?
- One can easily generate solar power, which is a renewable source of energy and is available in abundance.
- Solar panels are eco-friendly, because they do not emit toxic or greenhouse gases that can pollute the air when in use. So, they help in the fight against global warming.
- Additionally, solar power is highly sustainable because it is an inexhaustible source of energy that addresses the requirements of the present as well as the future generations.
What are the disadvantages of installing solar panels?
Read more:
9 Ways to Say NO to the AC and Reduce Electricity Costs
Smart Living: All About Solar Panels
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What are your questions about solar energy? We would love to discuss it with you. Share in Comments below.
- The initial cost of installation of solar panels is very high.
- Only individual homes can install these panels on their roofs and generate their own electricity. Also, solar panels require at least 100 square feet of rooftop space, which cannot be used for any other purpose.
- Solar panels are not a complete solution, because they are dependent on sunlight and they do not function at night. Also, if the weather is cloudy, rainy or the panels are under shade, they cannot generate much solar power.
- For generation of more electricity, extra solar panels will have to be installed. This will take up additional rooftop space.
Read more:
9 Ways to Say NO to the AC and Reduce Electricity Costs
Smart Living: All About Solar Panels
Tell us:
What are your questions about solar energy? We would love to discuss it with you. Share in Comments below.
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A solar panel is a device that absorbs light from the sun and converts it into electricity. Solar panels can be installed on the rooftops of buildings or elsewhere outdoors, wherever there is plenty of sunshine through the day.
How can solar energy be used at home?