Home > Learning Center > Solar panels
Solar panels
The use of solar panels is not a new concept. Those who began using solar energy a long time ago may be surprised at the changes.
The sharp increase in energy bills over the last couple of years has forced many people to try to figure out how to keep their bills under budget. In some places, bills have increased more than 50 percent in just a couple of years.
Because of this, many people have come back around to re-try solar energy. Others are trying it for the first time. Whereas the first solar panels were large and very obtrusive, today’s panels are small enough that many people don’t know they are looking at one unless it is pointed out to them.
The solar panels that were used on the roofs of homes many years ago were typically pretty big. The ones that are used on roofs today are much smaller. A typical panel could be about 3-4 feet long and about a foot or two wide.
Experts say a house can expect to reduce more than 60 percent of energy costs if the owners begin to utilize solar energy. Not only can this save you money, they could also make you money.
In many areas, electricity companies are required to offer credit back to homeowners who use this energy, depending on how much energy that home creates. Therefore, what can happen is the meter can actually move backwards, and the homeowner gets credit for generating excess energy.
Basically, what happens with net metering is the extra energy produced is placed back into the main utility grid and the electricity company essentially “pays” people for it by offering the aforementioned credits. It is actually possible for meters to go negative zero if enough energy is conserved. This is how people can actually “make” money.
It is for this reason, and others, that solar panels have regained popularity.
Solar panels | Power | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home
Copyright © 2007