| Poor economic conditions combined with rising | | | | 2) Potential income. If you generate excess |
| energy costs have many people searching for | | | | power, you can sell it to your local electric |
| energy alternatives. Many families are "going | | | | company. Imagine your electric meter running in |
| green" by installing home solar power systems. | | | | reverse and getting a monthly check from the |
| What are the pros and cons of sun generated | | | | electric company. |
| electricity? Take a few minutes to examine the | | | | 3) Green technology. Solar energy is clean and |
| advantages and disadvantages of solar energy | | | | environmentally friendly energy. It does not |
| technology. | | | | pollute, create smog, acid rain or contribute to |
| First lets look at the disadvantages of switching | | | | global warming. In addition, your eco friendly house |
| to solar power. | | | | will help reduce our country's dependence on |
| 1) Cost. The initial cost of purchasing a system | | | | unreliable foreign sources of energy. |
| large enough to replace your utility company can | | | | 4) Energy from the sun is renewable and |
| be quite high. New installed systems begin in price | | | | sustainable. The sun comes up every day. Even |
| at $20,000 and go up from there. | | | | on cloudy days you will produce some electricity. |
| 2) Space. A system capable of high home energy | | | | Reducing your dependence on the electric |
| efficiency requires a large area for the solar | | | | company while improving the environment are |
| panels. Most installations are roof mounted. This | | | | powerful reasons to switch to solar power. |
| does utilize existing space but it alters the | | | | However, do these benefits outweigh the |
| appearance of your home. | | | | disadvantage of a large initial cash outlay? |
| 3) Limited power generation. Efficient power | | | | Economic payback for a professionally installed |
| generation only occurs when the sun is shining. | | | | solar power system, depending upon the cost of |
| Night time electrical needs must be met by a | | | | your current electricity, can run up to 20 years. |
| battery storage system or by buying power | | | | If you want to go green without the high cost, |
| from the local utility. | | | | consider making and installing your own solar |
| Now lets examine some of the reasons you | | | | panels. Hundreds of families have done just that |
| should consider switching to a sustainable energy | | | | and are now reaping the benefits of clean, |
| source such as solar. | | | | sustainable energy. Recent advances in the |
| 1) Free energy. Once set up, the source of the | | | | manufacture of solar cells combined with the |
| electricity (the sun) is free. It greatly reduces or | | | | ready availability of quality plans make installing |
| eliminates your electric bill. Maintenance is minimal; | | | | your own home solar energy system a doable |
| keep the panels clean and replace storage | | | | project. |
| batteries as needed. | | | | |