| As our awareness of global warming increases, more | | | | installing your own panels? Or maybe something in |
| property owners are turning to solar technology to | | | | between such as buying a ready made panel and |
| meet their energy needs. This has created a huge | | | | installing it. |
| photovoltaic cells (PV cell) manufacturing industry. The | | | | You might not be aware that some major |
| number of manufacturers in the USA and Europe is | | | | corporations and house hold names are involved in the |
| rapidly growing with China also becoming a major | | | | production of panels. If you do engage a sales person |
| provider of cheap panels due to the availability of | | | | to provide you with the hassle free installation check |
| cheap labor. | | | | the type of panel they are going to install. It's quite |
| Photovoltaic based power has some major | | | | possible that they will charge you top dollar for a low |
| advantages over conventional methods of generating | | | | quality panel. |
| and supplying electricity. After the initial installation costs | | | | Its reasonable simple to buy photovoltaic cells and |
| your power generation is free as it's a 'renewable | | | | connect them together in a housing to make a solar |
| energy source'. With renewable energy source' you | | | | panel. These systems are a big investment with an |
| are not subject to fluctuations in energy prices which | | | | expected life span of 30 years minimum so make |
| can be very erratic as seen in Europe in 2008. You | | | | sure that you do your home work and buy a quality |
| also reduce your carbon foot print as all solar energy | | | | system. And don't be fooled into believing that 'only a |
| is green. And if you are in a remote location it might be | | | | few specialist companies' make panels' as some |
| impractical to have high voltage cables installed as | | | | salesmen will have you believe. As the saying goes, |
| costs can be $10/foot. | | | | 'Buy cheap, but twice'. |
| If you are considering installing a renewable energy | | | | Below is a list of some of the major PV |
| source system your first thought might be 'where do I | | | | manufacturers. We haven't supplied links to each |
| start'? There are many different routes to take. Do | | | | manufacturer as it's easier for you to just type the |
| you want a hassle free installation from a contractor | | | | manufacture name into Google. You will see some |
| where you hand over the cash and they do | | | | very familiar names in the list. |
| everything else? Or do you like the idea of building and | | | | |