| Solar panels and wind turbines have been around for | | | | lighting. Alternate ways to heat and cool your home |
| years. One would think that every home would be | | | | could also be another factor that you might want to |
| equipped with one or both of these types of green | | | | look into. |
| energy conversion systems. Technology and | | | | The location of where the solar panels are installed |
| manufacturing techniques have advanced enough for | | | | can greatly affect the amount of solar energy that |
| the prices to be in reach of the average home owner | | | | can be captured. Most solar panels are installed on the |
| or buyer. | | | | roof. However this can pose a problem for home |
| When you prepare your home for solar or wind | | | | owners who have angled roofs. In an ideal situation |
| power there are a few things that you have to | | | | you would want to have a flat roof top so that solar |
| consider. How much wattage do you need? How | | | | energy can be collected at any angle. If you have an |
| much wattage do you use on a daily basis? How | | | | angled rooftop and live in the United States, you need |
| much of your energy needs do you need to | | | | to place the panels on the southward facing side. The |
| supplement through the use of a green energy | | | | general rule of thumb is that you want to angle your |
| system? | | | | panels toward the Earth's equator. As you get closer |
| You would first need to take a look at your energy bill. | | | | to the equator, the sun will appear more centered in |
| Determine how many kilowatts per hour that your | | | | the sky. |
| household would use on average. Then decide on how | | | | The backyard could also be an option for considering |
| much of that energy you want to supplement through | | | | the placement of solar panels. If you were to place |
| a green energy system. It is possible to produce more | | | | them in the backyard you would have to pick a |
| energy than you use. If that occurs you can sell the | | | | location that would have access to the sun at any |
| surplus energy back to your local energy company's | | | | time of the day. You could also have them raised a |
| power grid. | | | | few feet off the ground so they could be free of |
| A great next step would to look into a way a reducing | | | | obstruction. The only problem with installing them in |
| the amount of energy your household consumes. You | | | | your back yard is that they do take up a considerable |
| can look into energy efficient appliances to further | | | | amount of space. An advantage to backyard |
| reduce your energy needs. Learn about how to | | | | installation is easy of access for maintenance. |
| conserve energy by turning off unused appliances and | | | | |