| > | | | | the shadow from your homes chimney can affect the |
| Converting your home over to solar energy can be a | | | | input of energy into blocked cells on the panel. |
| great way to save money on high electric bills and help | | | | The solar panels will function best if they are positioned |
| the planet is more environmentally friendly. Solar power | | | | to receive direct sunlight and in climate that are very |
| uses the existing energy from the sun and converts it | | | | sunny such as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and |
| into useable energy through solar panels. Converting | | | | California there are generally lots of sunny days for |
| your home over to solar energy can be a great way | | | | solar panels to draw from so placement is easier. |
| to save money on high electric bills and help the planet | | | | Although ideally the panels are placed for optimal |
| is more environmentally friendly. Solar power uses the | | | | orientation at true South (in Northern Hemispheres) and |
| existing energy from the sun and converts it into | | | | True North (in Southern Hemispheres) studies have |
| usable energy through solar panels. | | | | shown that panels that can face up to a 90 degree |
| Solar panels turn direct sunlight into electrical current | | | | angle east or west of this position their abilities to work |
| through the photovoltaic cells in the panels. The | | | | at full capacity are not reduced that much. |
| photovoltaic cells themselves are made up of | | | | The majority of panels are placed at an angel that is |
| crystalline silicone. | | | | usually the same tilt as the roof they are placed on |
| Solar panels have a long lifetime of about twenty | | | | which can work if the mounting brackets allow the |
| years before they stop working effectively and need | | | | panels to tilt and follow the natural course of the sun. |
| to be replaced. Since the life span is so long the | | | | The roof is the most common location to place panels |
| placement needs to be done correctly because it will | | | | but it isn’t the only location. Panels can also be |
| be there for a while and it might as well be as | | | | put near southern facing walls in the northern |
| effective as possible. | | | | hemisphere and placed near northern facing walls in |
| If you have made the decision to go solar the next | | | | the southern hemisphere and work very effectively. |
| part of the process is to decide where you want the | | | | When you buy your solar panels the company will be |
| panels to go. Obviously you want the panels to go | | | | able to help guide you in selecting a contractor who is |
| where they will generate the most power so you need | | | | familiar with solar panel placement and they can also |
| to choose a location that factors in a variety of | | | | be a good source for help on placement information of |
| variables including the weather conditions and any | | | | your panels in your geographic area. |
| obstructions of sunlight such as trees or buildings. Even | | | | |