Solar Tips

There is a lot to be said for solar power and how using it can benefit you and the environment at the same time. In fact, many people are switching to solar power for just these reasons. Of course, solar power is not something that works for everyone, but if you are serious about finding out what solar power can do in your home, here are a few tips to get you started.

Get the Facts First

The first thing you should do when you are thinking about adapting some systems of your home to solar power is find out exactly what you are dealing with. There are a ton of myths surrounding solar power and you will be much better off if you are able to separate fact from fiction.

To begin with, many people are under the impression that solar power is too expensive for them. While it is true that having a full home solar power system installed can be quite expensive, you need to understand what your true cost will be once you factor in the monthly energy savings over the long term.

You should also keep in mind that you do not have to go all solar all at once. You can always start small with a solar hot water heater, for instance. And then little by little you can add more and more pieces of the puzzle until you have a totally solar powered home.

Of course, in order to be able to use solar power at all you need to have the space to install enough solar panels and you also need to have an adequate amount of sun exposure each day. These are certainly limitations that can rule out some homes, but you should find out exactly what would be required before you write off the possibility of using solar power in your home.

Reduce Your Load

Another important way to make solar power a more practical choice for your home is to reduce your total energy consumption in every way possible. You may very well not have enough space to put up solar panels to serve all of your current energy needs. But do you really need to be using all of that energy to begin with?

One basic thing you can do to reduce your overall energy consumption is to make sure your house is supremely well insulated and sealed. Keeping all temperature controlled air from escaping means that you will not need to use nearly as much energy to keep your home comfortable all year round. You can also invest in energy saving appliances for all over your house, and make sure your washing machine and dishwasher use as little water as possible.

Proper Maintenance

While it is true that solar power systems for your home require very little maintenance, that does not mean you should ignore them completely. A home solar power system is a big investment and you want to do everything possible to protect that investment. That is why you should make sure that your entire system is checked by a professional on a regular basis.

This does not need to happen often, perhaps once every couple of years or so, but it is very important that you keep up a regular schedule of professional maintenance visits. You should also be sure to find out what things you can do on your own to keep your system functioning properly. Cleaning off solar panels and clearing other parts of the system of debris will go a long way towards extending the life of your solar power system.