Solar panels are the ideal choice for anyone looking for a solution against the constantly increasing price of electricity as well a way of protecting the environment. Solar energy is free, renewable and generates no emissions. It makes for an ideal alternative to your grid electricity.
The first thing you need to know about solar panels is that they can indirectly serve you even when there is no sunlight, such as at night. The excess energy collected during the day can be stored in a battery or on your grid for you to use whenever you need, at no cost. Even though it is still recommended to stay connected to your grid for the times when the energy in your panels is not enough, you will have to rely on it much less, leading to extremely low costs for your bills.
Another thing you need to know is that solar panels do not require you to live in sunny areas. They only need UV light that can collected even when the weather is cold and cloudy. More than that, several researches have indicated that cold weather is beneficial to solar panels as they conduct electricity better in such conditions. If you want some evidence, think about this: the world leader when it comes to solar energy is Germany, a country with cold and cloudy weather. What you need to think about more is shading: if your roof is shaded by other buildings or trees, look for other places where sunlight could reach your panels, such as ground of your garden.
Solar panels require very little maintenance and can be expected to last for decades. They can work perfectly in combination with your existing grid so whenever the supply of energy from the panels finishes, the grid electricity comes in use automatically.
Prices have become more affordable than ever over the last few years and there are plenty of options to choose from. The best choice for you should depend on a lot of factors such as budget, the amount of electricity your house needs, available space for the panels and many other things. If you are on a tight budget but want to see what the fuss is all about, you can even try making your own solar panels. There are many do-it-yourself kits and guides that take you through every step of the process. In case you decide to buy professionally made panels, we advise you to look for some reputable manufacturers. Most of them offer good quality for their products and have warranties that last at least 20 years.
Even if the initial investment seems large at first, keep in mind that it is only done once and it will save you a great amount of money on the long run. The electricity from the sun is free to use and can be regenerated infinitely. Depending on what your system ends up being like, you can cut down your bills significantly, pay nothing at all or even get paid for the electricity that your solar panels generate! More about that in our future articles.