| Ever thought that you'd like to do your bit for the | | | | so that leaves wind and solar for home use. |
| planet, while saving yourself some money as you do | | | | The big disadvantage when it comes to wind power |
| it? If you've ever thought about solar power, then this | | | | (for domestic use) is the actual wind turbine itself. |
| may just help to nudge you further in that direction. | | | | There are some small ones that will attach to the side |
| In this article we're going to look at three of the main | | | | of your house, but that means you're limited to where |
| things you should be considering when looking at solar | | | | you can have them, and, unlike the sun, you aren't |
| power. First we're going to talk about what solar | | | | guaranteed to have enough wind to charge up your |
| power actually is. Next, we'll look at whether it's a fad | | | | batteries so as to power your home. |
| or the future. Finally, we're going to end by seeing how | | | | Cost Effectiveness. |
| cost effective it actually is to have solar power. After | | | | Right, we know that the sun is a free and renewable |
| reading this article, you'll be able to see if solar power | | | | source of energy, so it will end up giving us free |
| really is the best option for you. | | | | energy to heat and power the home, but what are the |
| What is Solar Power? | | | | real cost of solar power? |
| Most people are going to have a fair idea of what | | | | What you need to do is to decide on the type of solar |
| solar power is, but not so many actually know how it | | | | power you want or need. Some people don't need to |
| works, and how you can capture it so as to make use | | | | use it to heat their water because they have other |
| of it, so let's clarify these points a little. | | | | ways of doing that i.e. a log fire connected to the hot |
| We all know that the sun generates heat; in fact, all | | | | water storage, so they really only need to think about |
| you need to do is to stay outside on a hot sunny day, | | | | powering the house. |
| so as to see the effect of the sun on your body. The | | | | Look at how much it will cost you to have a solar |
| body will absorb the heat and radiation from the sun | | | | panel (or a number of them) installed that will |
| and, usually, show it as some form of sunburn. | | | | completely replace the power that you get from the |
| Other things can absorb this heat too, and they can | | | | major service providers. Workout how much you |
| release it again in a more productive form than | | | | actually pay for your electricity each year and then |
| sunburn. For instance, if you leave a hose out in the | | | | divide the cost of the solar panels by the cost of the |
| sun you'll notice that the water that comes out to start | | | | power you're paying for per year. This will show you |
| with will be hot, and this is the basic principal behind | | | | how many years it will take for the solar panels to |
| solar water heating. | | | | start paying for themselves. |
| Solar energy can also be stored (via solar panels) in | | | | That is just a rough guide because, especially over the |
| large batteries, and that gives use free power that we | | | | last few years, the cost of domestic electricity has |
| can use to run electrical appliances in the house. | | | | started to skyrocket. The figure you get will be the |
| Is Solar Energy a Fad, or the future? | | | | number of years based on a price freeze, but you |
| Most of us know that there's going to come a point in | | | | should actually find that the true length of time is a lot |
| the not too distant future when the world has to | | | | shorter. |
| change to way it consumes the natural resources in | | | | Can we reduce that time any further? Sure we can. |
| order to produce energy, but how far off is that time, | | | | Quite often it's possible to actually sell unused power |
| and are we ready for it? | | | | back to the electricity companies. If you're generating |
| The fossil fuels that we have been using to power our | | | | power during the day, that you're not using, then try |
| lifestyle have been depleting at a rapid rate over the | | | | selling it back to the companies. The money that you |
| years. Most of the things in the home that we take for | | | | have coming in from the electricity companies will help |
| granted couldn't even have been dreamt of when we | | | | the solar panels to pay for themselves a whole lot |
| first started using fossil fuels to power our everyday | | | | quicker. |
| lives, and, couple with a growing population, cheaper | | | | So there you have it, three things to consider when |
| forms of transport, and a love of gadgets, the | | | | looking at upgrading to solar energy. First, what are the |
| depletion of these natural resources has increased to | | | | benefits of solar power? Second, are you going to be |
| the point where alternatives are needed. | | | | buying something that's here today and gone |
| So, what are some of the alternatives that are being | | | | tomorrow? Finally, is it going to be cost effective for |
| considered? Well, some of the ones you've probably | | | | you? Now you'll be able to decide if you can save the |
| heard of are solar, wind, and hydrogen power. The last | | | | planet, as well as save yourself some money. |
| one, hydrogen, is of more interest to the car industry, | | | | |