Residential Solar Energy

Implementing residential solar energy is not as complicated as many people believe. With solar panels or modules to collect and to convert sunlight to electricity, homeowners can easily generate power to operate appliances or selected home systems. Solar energy is scalable, meaning you can start small and graduate toward a set-up that will allow you to save money you would otherwise be spending on utility bills for gas, oil, or electricity generated by more “conventional” sources.

A Basic Solar Starter System

The fastest way to put in place a solar system and to learn about the needed components is to purchase a solar panel kit. The package will include roof-mounted photovoltaic cells and an inverter. The panels will turn sunlight into DC current, which the inverter will change to AC, which can be used by appliances, pumps, and small motors. Most of these kits also include a battery back-up to store excess energy and to provide power during outages. Most beginning solar users will run a hybrid set-up, gaining some power from their solar system and some from the electric company.

When the Sun Isn’t Shining

Most homeowners are fearful of integrating home solar power systems because they envisioning no electricity on cloudy days and during dark nights. That’s why complete solar systems include a battery backup component. On bright days, the solar panels generate sufficient energy to both power the devices to which they are attached and to store energy in a battery. The battery becomes the reserve power source for nights and overcast days. The solar panels will actually generate electricity on cloudy days, but not enough to meet the requisite power needs.

Thermal Solar Systems

Unlike photovoltaic cells, thermal solar systems collect the sun’s energy and convert it to heat to warm a liquid or air in the collectors. In industrial settings, the heat may be used to produce steam to turn generators. In residential scenarios, it is most often transferred directly to the home for climate control.

These liquid solar systems are well suited for central home heating. Normally water or antifreeze in the collectors is warmed by the sun’s rays. The liquid, whether stored in a tank or run through a forced-air heat exchanger, provides warmth for the home. In some systems, for instance, pipes are placed under the floor through which the warmed liquid circulates to provide heating. In others, the solar thermal power compliments the home’s existing central forced air system.

In general, however, solar air systems are less efficient than circulating liquid variants. Solar air systems can, however, operate earlier and later in the day and they can be adapted for use in single rooms via a window box air heater. Such an arrangement will provide only a limited amount of heat though.

(For an example of a room air heater, do-it-your-selfers can view mechanical drawings at SolarSponge.com.)

Both methods -- building your own and buying kits and other pre-manufactured equipment -- are viable avenues for bringing some degree of solar energy into your home. The Internal Revenue Service offers an energy tax credit of 30% against the cost of installing alternative energy equipment and some states offer additional incentives via income tax credit or sales tax exemptions. The hardest part of using residential solar is determining how much to invest for what degree of savings and for what degree of energy independence. In the long run, however, looking beyond conventional power generation always benefits the homeowner.