| Solar energy is a very hot topic right now and | | | | implement solar and wind technologies in their homes. |
| everyone seems to want to know more about it. But | | | | Some disadvantages that not many people seem to |
| do you really know what it is? Basically, it's using a | | | | talk about are: |
| device (like a soar panel) to absorb the suns rays and | | | | - If you plan to run your entire home off of solar |
| converting it into usable energy for our homes. It is | | | | power you'll need a large area that has plenty of |
| actually pretty simple but do you know the | | | | sunlight close to your home to set up your solar power |
| advantages and disadvantages of solar energy? | | | | system. |
| A few of the advantages are: | | | | - Solar cells only produce DC (direct current) and alot |
| - The power you generate is free once you have | | | | of energy can be lost when converting to AC |
| your system set up and working. There are no "hidden | | | | (alternate current) when you use an inverter so you |
| costs" like the ones that are associated with fossil | | | | can use the power generated. |
| fuels. | | | | - Doesn't work at night when you have no sunlight |
| - The ultimate clean power source. Solar power has | | | | directly on the panels. You'll need to have a deep cell |
| no environmental negatives and is the ultimate green | | | | battery back up to store the energy you create during |
| energy resource. | | | | the day so you can use it at night....otherwise you're |
| - Solar cells (the part in the solar panels that actually | | | | home will not have power! |
| captures the sunlight and makes it into energy) require | | | | - Initial set up costs for a professionally installed system |
| no maintenance once set up. | | | | can be up to $20, 000 to outfit a complete home! This |
| - The federal government, under Barack Obama's | | | | puts solar power out of the reach of most people |
| influence, is increasing tax credits for people who | | | | who are interested in using it to save electricity costs. |