The Solar Electric System: Going Solar For Your Home

Solar electric systems are a reliable and green way to run your home without incurring high-energy bills or leaving a large carbon footprint. Once considered only ideal for small homes in remote areas, solar electric systems have gained in popularity over the years for homes in suburban as well as rural areas.

If you are considering solar electric power there are a few facts you will need to examine to make sure this is the right system for you. The first thing you should ask yourself is if you have the available resources to support using solar power? The southwest has traditionally been considered the best location for solar usage because of the amount of sunlight available year round but year round sunlight isn't one hundred percent necessary to obtain a good source of solar power. If you have unobstructed and clear access to the sun from your home, you can still consider this type of energy usage. Many systems today are able to work with scattered as well as direct sunlight so cloudy days don't mean your home goes dark.

Another consideration is space. Do you have the space on your roof to accommodate the size of the system that you will need? Smaller homes under 1,000 square feet have become more sought after as the housing market crashes. Their small size means the system that they need to accommodate is also smaller. A larger home will require a larger solar system in place to run correctly.

Is the initial cost worth the investment? You should remember that your total energy savings will show over time since you won't have high-energy bills, even if you go with a grid connected system. What may appear to be a high initial start up cost will pay for itself over time. And if your goal is to be greener and reduce your carbon footprint, this method of electricity certainly accomplishes that goal.

Finally, make sure your local area will support a solar electric system. Are local permits required to install a solar powered system in your area? What are the regulations? Most local governments recognize that solar powered energy makes a positive impact on their communities and support the usage of it.

Once you decide you are a good candidate for solar energy your next consideration is what type of system do you want to install. There are three types of solar electric systems available to consider including grid connected, stand-alone and hybrid.

A grid-connected system allows you to be connected to the power company as back up when your solar system is not generating enough juice to run your home.

A stand alone system operates as the name implies with no back up and is ideal for homes located in remote areas or homes that need a minimal amount of power due either to their size or their intended usage.

Finally a hybrid system works with solar energy and wind power to generate enough electricity to run your home.