| Basic solar panel facts will give you a brief overview | | | | company will have 10 or more panels connected to |
| of why you should consider using the sun to power | | | | each other. Individual panel prices range from $800 up |
| your home. Economic hard times, the ever increasing | | | | to $1,000 or more depending upon size and type of |
| cost of electricity and a concern for the environment | | | | solar cells use |
| has thousands of families turning to solar energy. If you | | | | 6. The U.S. government and many of the state |
| are like these folks, take a few minutes to find out | | | | governments offer financial assistance to |
| about why solar power may be in your future. | | | | homeowners wanting to convert to solar electricity. |
| 1. Solar electricity is clean and renewable. No pollution is | | | | Most of these incentives are tax related, so check |
| created in the production of electricity. Contrast that | | | | with your tax advisor to see what is available to you. |
| with the tons of pollution spewed into the air by coal | | | | 7. Solar panel construction is a fairly simple and straight |
| fired electrical plants. Unlike coal plants, solar energy is | | | | forward process. A panel can be assembled in just a |
| a renewable source of power. The sun rises each day | | | | few hours and will cost up to 80 percent less than a |
| and most days the solar panels will produce electricity. | | | | commercially built panel. |
| 2. Solar cells are the building blocks of solar panels. | | | | Thousands of homeowners have built and installed |
| Each cell produces a small amount of electricity which | | | | their own panels. If you decide that you want to go this |
| is combined with the other cells in the panel to produce | | | | route, after looking at solar panel facts, the first thing |
| a usable amount of electricity. | | | | you must do is select a comprehensive set of |
| 3. Solar panels are quiet and require very little | | | | instructions. The process is not complicated but it does |
| maintenance. Just make sure that the panel is free | | | | require a good road map. |
| from debris and the glass is clean. | | | | Be careful in selecting your plans. Much of what is |
| 4.Solar panels can be mounted on the roof of the | | | | available on the Internet has been put together by |
| house or on posts in the yard. Roof mounting is the | | | | hobbyists, many who have not worked in the solar |
| most common form of installation. | | | | energy field. Make sure that the plans you choose are |
| 5. Solar panels are the most expensive component in | | | | written by folks who make their living designing and |
| a solar power system. Systems that will replace most | | | | installing solar power systems, not just writing about |
| or all of the electricity purchased from the electric | | | | them. |