| 1. Solar panel technology emerged in the 1800's. | | | | homeowners or businesses upgrading their systems. |
| 2. The first "true" solar panels were created in the | | | | 13. Solar panels typically have a 20-25 year warranty |
| 1950s. | | | | and 40 year lifetime expectancy. |
| 3. Solar cell's efficiency may be as little as 4% (organic | | | | 14. In order to achieve the most out of solar panels, |
| cells) or as much as 40% (experimental | | | | they have to be facing south and be installed at 20-50 |
| multiple-junction solar cells). The higher the efficiency of | | | | degree angles. |
| the material, the more expensive it will be to | | | | 15. You can wire solar cells to increase the Voltage of |
| manufacture it. | | | | the system (series wiring), to increase the Current of |
| 4. One 100W light bulb that's constantly on, costs | | | | the system (parallel wiring), or to increase both, Voltage |
| around $100 per year. | | | | and Current (series/parallel wiring). |
| 5. One photovoltaic roof shingle can produce as much | | | | 16. Solar powered systems with a battery can provide |
| as 15W of electricity. Several solar roof shingles could | | | | a homeowner with electricity even during the time of |
| run one 100W light bulb that's constantly on. | | | | local power outages. |
| 6. A solar cell with 10 percent efficiency output and a | | | | 17. You do not have to connect a home in the woods |
| 100 sq centimeters (15.5 sq inch) surface can produce | | | | to a power grid, if you provide it with a powerful |
| about 1W of power. | | | | enough solar power generator. |
| 7. An average household uses about 9,000kWh of | | | | 18. Solar energy is very safe for the environment, |
| energy annually. | | | | since it produces negligibly small amounts of elements, |
| 8. A 350 Sq foot panel that produces 15W of power | | | | and only during the process of manufacturing the solar |
| per Sq foot would produce a total of about 9,000kWh | | | | materials. |
| of energy yearly, which could power an average | | | | 19. In the future, we may see cars and houses painted |
| household with all the energy that it needs. | | | | with a translucent solar paint to generate energy. |
| 9. An average homeowner that uses electricity from | | | | 20. Solar energy won't run out until the sun ceases to |
| their utility grid could spend $50,000 in the next 25 | | | | shine, which is estimated to happen in about 5 billion |
| years on their electric bills. | | | | years from now. |
| 10. Tax incentives for buying solar can be as high as | | | | As you can see, there are numerous good solar |
| 30% of the purchased solar powered system's cost. | | | | energy facts. It's also a fact that the whole world is |
| 11. In the US, tax incentives can result in shortening the | | | | anticipating further drops in the price of solar material, |
| time for the panels to pay back for themselves down | | | | so that everyone will be able to enjoy all of the solar |
| to as little as 6-8 years. | | | | power benefits at a reasonable cost. |
| 12. You can get solar panels for free from | | | | |