Basic Information on Switching to Solar Power | Consumer

By Burtonimus
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Solar energy technology can be used many different ways. It can be used in architecture, horticulture, urban planning, lighting, water heaters, cooking and even vehicles. The most relevant use to you, however, is most likely its ability to help you save on your electric bill.

You can use solar energy to heat your pool or spa, as well as to provide light and heat for your home. It can even be used to power lawn sprinklers and other equipment you may have in your yard. Keep in mind that the savings of going solar depends partly on the size of your home.

Two main types of systems that you can use in your home are photovoltaic and solar thermal. A photovoltaic system produces electricity for your home and includes solar panels, an inverter and a meter system. The meter system provides the benefit of being able to sell excess power back to the utility company. Solar thermal systems are used to heat the water in your home. You can enjoy a significant cost savings by having both of these systems installed in your home.

You have a couple of options for going solar. You can buy a do-it-yourself kit, thereby saving on labor costs. If you aren't comfortable with that, however, you can hire a contractor. A contractor can save you a lot of time and effort by choosing a system and taking care of the required permits.

There are other things you can do aside from, or in addition to, adding an entire solar powered system. Try switching to energy efficient appliances. Have your electricity powered hot water heater converted to a propane or gas heater. Buy a solar oven in which to prepare your meals. Make sure that your weather stripping is in good condition and that your home is well insulated. Replace the light bulbs in your house with fluorescent bulbs, which use significantly less electricity. Installing sky lights and turning on lights only when it's too dark to see are other ways to save.

A trombe wall and a solar sunroom are two methods of going solar that are not as well known as solar panels. The trombe wall is made of masonry that's glazed on the outside and has a two-fold purpose. Heat is transferred into the home for heating and out of the home for cooling. A solar sunroom is located on the south-facing side of your house and uses large panes of glass to collect solar energy. This energy is either sent to the rest of the house for heating or stored.

One of the first things you'll need to do is get a good idea of how much you can save by switching to solar energy. Several calculators are available online that can help you with this. These calculators will help you estimate your savings by using information such as where you live, what electric company you currently use and how many kilowatt-hours of electricity you use per year.

Building and electrical permits will also have to be taken care of. Both may be required in order for you to install a new solar energy system. Contractors may be able to take care of this part for you by including the costs in what they charge. Get in touch with your Homeowners' Association, if you have one, and see what forms need to be filed and what approvals you need.

Once your system is installed, have a building or electrical inspector come to inspect and approve your system. This step is only necessary if you had to obtain a building permit. Check with your utility company to see if you need them to complete an inspection. In some cases, modifications may need to be made to your system.

As a final step, contact your homeowner's insurance agent and have them add your solar energy system to your policy. This is a necessary step to ensure that your system is covered in case of damage.

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