Solar Power Basics

You are probably seeing more and more solar panels on homes and businesses as the sustainability movement gathers steam and the government offers more tax incentives for making “green” improvements to properties. If you’ve considered making the switch to solar power, here are some of the benefits.

Solar power obviously comes from the sun, which is a renewable resource. Although not every day is sunny, the sun is not going to stop producing light. Other energy sources require harvesting of fossil fuels or plant or animal matter that will eventually be depleted. Solar power doesn’t emit any greenhouse gases or other pollution, and there is no risk of harming the environment while acquiring the energy from the sun, as opposed to fuels like oil that require dredging and may spill with disastrous results.

Ongoing solar power is free. Once your system is in place, there is no additional cost to power your home or business. Most solar panels are long lasting and require little maintenance. Solar panels are generally a good investment, with varying time-frames for ROI. As interest in solar power grows, a solar power system can add resale value to a home, since lower energy bills are appealing to everyone and “green” improvements are becoming more desirable.

Solar power technology is continually improving, and costs continue to drop. If you aren’t ready to commit to roof panels and the larger expense of powering your whole home with sunlight, you can also opt to power your hot water heater or pool heater with solar power, or use smaller solar power devices for solar “space heating”. www.SolarPower.org is a great place to learn more about solar power and stay up on the latest developments in the industry.