| Residential solar energy is a hot topic these days with | | | | a solar hot water system the sun's light is converted |
| the global recession, increasing concerns for global | | | | directly to heat energy in the water and the water is |
| warming and the looming threat to the security of | | | | then used for cooking, cleaning, taking showers and |
| world oil supplies. Many people are seeking a solution | | | | heating your home. For this reason solar hot water |
| to reduce their monthly energy bill and to reduce their | | | | systems are relatively efficient, simple and effective. |
| dependence on fossil fuels. One place people have | | | | Hot air residential solar energy is similar to the hot |
| turned for solutions is solar technologies. | | | | water systems. The heat from the sun is captured |
| The use of residential solar energy provides the | | | | and transferred to the air circulating inside of the |
| measurable benefits of reducing or even eliminating | | | | system with a solar to air heat exchanger. The warm |
| your monthly energy bill and reducing or eliminating your | | | | air at the outlet of the heat exchanger is then |
| use of electricity generated by fossil fuel burning | | | | circulated in your home for heating purposes. |
| power plants. There are a few other benefits that are | | | | Electricity produced by residential solar energy |
| less measurable but equally important like pride of | | | | systems is still good environmentally and economically |
| ownership. | | | | speaking. The inefficiencies discussed earlier are part |
| Residential solar energy covers several different types | | | | of all electrical generation systems it just so happens |
| of solar systems. The most common types are on | | | | that solar panels use a free abundant energy source |
| and off grid solar cells that produce electricity for your | | | | to produce green power rather than burning coal or |
| home, hot water systems and hot air systems. The | | | | utilizing other greenhouse gas producing processes. As |
| most efficient at utilizing the sun's energy are the hot | | | | an example you can optimize the results of your solar |
| water and hot air systems as they have the fewest | | | | system by using solar hot water rather than using |
| number of energy conversions. | | | | solar cells to generate electricity to run an electric hot |
| Energy conversion in residential solar energy is an | | | | water heater. You can then use electricity generated |
| important topic that relates to the overall efficiency of | | | | with electric solar panels to light your home and run |
| your system. A solar panel system takes energy from | | | | your electronic appliances. |
| photons in sunlight and converts it to electricity, then | | | | Residential solar energy will continue to be a hot topic |
| that electricity is converted into lighting in a light bulb, | | | | for years to come as a way to create a sustainable |
| heat in your furnace or hot water in your electric | | | | environment and energy future for everyone on earth. |
| water heater. At every step of this process energy is | | | | The sun is our most abundant and clean energy |
| lost in the inefficiencies of the conversion process. | | | | source. Life on earth is made possible by the energy |
| Now residential solar energy with respect to hot water | | | | received from the sun so why not continue to use that |
| systems only has one energy conversion and as a | | | | energy to not only support a better life for the whole |
| result a much higher efficiency than electric systems. In | | | | planet but for yourself and your family as well? |