Solar Panels For Homes – Advantages And Disadvantages

Solar Panels For Homes – Advantages And Disadvantages



Solar Power

Image by Mountain/\Ash Flickr

There is something misleading about the name ‘Solar Power’. All forms of energy is in some way or another, derived from the sun. Without the sun, there would be no life on earth as it provides the energy that sustains plant and animal life on earth. Like all technologies and systems, solar panels for homes, too, have it’s advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of solar panels for homes, by far, out pace it’s disadvantages.

 

 The Advantages of Solar Panels For Homes

Solar panels for homes save you money, period. Once you recover the cost of installing the equipment, there is no running cost as the energy from the sun is totally free. As production of solar energy does not require any fuel, you are not affected by it’s supply and demand and are not affected by the ever-increasing price of gasoline.

Solar energy is clean, renewable, sustainable and protects the environment. Unlike gas, coal and oil, the supply of solar energy is renewable, at least for the next 4.5 billion years. Unlike the traditional forms of electricity generation, it does not pollute the environment with carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or mercury, etc.

As solar energy does not expel any pollutants into the air, it does not contribute to global warming, etc.  Rather, it contributes to the decrease in emissions of green house gases. The system can operate independently, without any dependence on a power or a gas grid. Not only do solar panels for homes reduce your electricity bill but it is also available at all times and is not affected by power outages.

The solar panels for homes systems are practically maintenance free and once installed, can last for decades and have no recurring costs. They are silent in operation and do not exude any offensive smells. If in future, your electric needs increase, extra panels can be added to the existing system.

The Disadvantages of Solar Panels For Homes

The main disadvantage of solar panels for homes systems is it’s initial installation costs, as the semi-conducting materials are very expensive. To achieve a good level of efficiency, solar panels for homes require a large area for installation. The location of the sun also affects the efficiency of the system but this is overcome by installation of extra components – an added cost.

Pollution in the air, as well as the presence of the clouds, affects the production of solar energy. There is no production of solar energy at night. However, this can be taken care of with a battery backup system or net metering. Net metering is a scheme, available in 40 states including Washington DC, through which your utility company buys from you the extra energy that your solar panels for homes system produces, building up a credit on your account.

  

 P.S. To access the free online training course (Solar Panels For Homes Guide) normally vlaued at $97… click here now.

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Solar Panels For Homes – Advantages And Disadvantages

Comments

  1. David Cottrell

    I agree with most of the article. I would point out, however, that a common misconception in the green world is that is some inherent link between solar and gasoline or oil. Not so. Details here. (http://davidcottrell.name)

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