| You have probably heard a lot in the media about | | | | changes due to fluctuating home power levels. |
| the increasing popularity of solar panels being | | | | When new neighborhoods are planned using solar |
| retro-fitted to houses and new houses being | | | | powered homes, each house has its own "power |
| designed and built with solar technology in mind. | | | | plant" right on the roof, so there is no need to |
| There are a lot of reasons people are turning to | | | | overbuild the electrical grid in anticipation of the |
| solar power, both for environmental reasons and | | | | building of a lot of houses. Solar panels can be |
| economic ones. Why do people use solar power? | | | | placed wherever they will receive the most sun, |
| There are a lot of great reasons. | | | | and once they are up, they require little to no |
| One of the main reasons solar power is becoming | | | | maintenance and have a 40 year lifespan. Most |
| so popular is that it is environmentally friendly. | | | | have a 25 year warranty as well. |
| Generating electricity from home solar power | | | | People who learn about the great advantages of |
| systems does not emit pollutants like carbon | | | | solar power and make the decision to convert |
| dioxide. Increasing reliance on solar power means | | | | their house to run on solar energy have several |
| less reliance on fossil fuels as a nation, and less | | | | ways of doing this. There are so-called turnkey |
| reliance on traditional electrical utilities for | | | | systems where contractors come in and take |
| individuals. | | | | care of everything. Installation takes on average |
| A second great reason to use solar power is to | | | | two days and only rarely requires access to inside |
| provide your home with electricity that will | | | | your home. |
| drastically lower your bill from your local electrical | | | | Some who choose to go solar purchase solar |
| utility company. In fact some people are able to | | | | panels and then either install them or hire |
| eliminate their electric bill altogether, at least some | | | | contractors to do so. There are even people who |
| of the time. Many people who fit their house with | | | | make their own solar panels and install them, and |
| solar panels use financing to pay for it. But they | | | | this is the most cost efficient (and labor intensive) |
| are investing in their home rather than the local | | | | way to go about it. There are ways to convert |
| electric company. | | | | your house to run on solar power where you can |
| While the solar loan payment is fixed, utility rates | | | | be involved in the process as little or as much as |
| continue to increase. In fact, many people who | | | | you want to be. |
| finance solar home power systems have a net | | | | Today's thin film solar panels are bringing the cost |
| positive gain right from the beginning. In other | | | | of going solar into a more reasonable territory for |
| words, their electricity bill goes down by more | | | | most people. With factories in Europe having |
| than the cost of the monthly payment for the | | | | ramped up production to meet incentive |
| solar power system. Some people save up to | | | | programs there, thin film solar panels are more |
| 80% on their monthly electricity bill. Additionally, in | | | | readily available than ever as well as being more |
| the U.S. there are tax credits for installing solar | | | | cost-effective than ever. They can be easily |
| panels, and some states have their own tax | | | | incorporated into plans for new houses. Thin film |
| rebates on top of it. Solar power systems pay | | | | solar panels have been featured on national news |
| for themselves within a few years. | | | | stories, and Time magazine even declared them |
| Perhaps solar's biggest advantage is one that is | | | | "Invention of the Year." |
| not talked about as much. Solar panels are more | | | | With every year that goes by, the reasons for |
| efficient than power from other sources. It | | | | using solar power increase which makes the |
| comes from your roof and goes right into your | | | | reasons for sticking with conventional electricity |
| house rather than from a coal-fired power plant | | | | generation decrease. With federal and sometimes |
| or hydroelectric plant through an electrical grid. | | | | state-level tax credits and other incentives, there |
| Energy made during the day can be stored for | | | | is more reason than ever before to start using |
| use during the night, so you will have no lifestyle | | | | solar generated power. |