| Taking responsibility for our own home energy | | | | Once you have your AC, you can either grid tie it or |
| requirements is no longer just a moral choice, but is | | | | save it in batteries. If you are living on grid, a grid tie |
| becoming a financial issue. Having your own home | | | | system is ideal as you won't need to worry about |
| solar energy system means that you can generate a | | | | battery storage and maintenance, but not all electricity |
| portion of your own energy needs and reduce your | | | | companies will buy your energy at the same price that |
| dependence on expensive fossil fuel energy. | | | | they will charge for it. If you are living off grid, then a |
| One of the greatest advantages of solar energy is | | | | battery bank is vital and having a large enough battery |
| that properly maintained, you can produce free clean | | | | bank to maintain energy during the night and on rainy |
| energy for your home. By building your own solar | | | | days may cost a little more, but will ensure that you |
| panels, you can reduce the initial investment | | | | have few power interruptions. |
| considerably and will be able to recover your | | | | Solar Hot Water Systems for Home Use. |
| investment within just a few short years. | | | | You can also take advantage of solar energy to heat |
| How Does Residential Solar Power Work? | | | | your water. Most solar hot water systems do not heat |
| Home solar power is very simply energy that is | | | | your water to more than around 60 degrees, but |
| captured from the sun and converted into electricity to | | | | when used in conjunction with a hot water geyser, |
| run your home. By integrating your system into the grid, | | | | they reduce the amount of energy required to get |
| you can sell the energy that you produce back to the | | | | your water to a suitable temperature for bathing. |
| grid or receive credits for future use. | | | | The water heat is more than adequate for washing |
| Solar energy is captured through photovoltaic cells or | | | | clothes and the implementation of such a system can |
| PV cells. These are connected together into solar | | | | reduce your heating bill by up to 40%. |
| panels which collect energy in the form of direct | | | | The systems are different to solar panels for |
| current. In order to utilize the energy, it must first be | | | | electricity in that they work by absorbing the heat of |
| converted into alternate current which is what | | | | the sun and passing this heat to tubes running within |
| household appliances use. This is done through an | | | | them. These tubes contain water which is heated. |
| inverter. | | | | |