Imagine having a water heating system or electricity generator in your home that has no moving parts, is virtually indestructible, and that requires no maintenance or replacement of worn out materials. Of course, today's solar panels do just that. With solar panels, all you have to do is mount them in a sunny place, hook up the wires, and you're in business. Because of high energy costs and a desire to lead a more "green" lifestyle, many homeowners are opting for solar and it is gaining in popularity by leaps and bounds. Here's why.
Solar water heating systems are hardly a new idea. Crude mechanisms were popular in sunny American states in as early as the year 1900. Solar panels somewhat similar to those used today were placed on home roofs of entire subdivisions in Florida from the 1920's to the 1940's. However, many Americans thought these early panels were obtrusive and detracted from a home's look, and the practice fell into public disfavor for a few decades.
In the 1970's, the skyrocketing costs of home heating oil led President Jimmy Carter to offer tax breaks to those who wished to tap into solar power again. The new solar panels were better able to concentrate the heat generated by the sun and used it much more efficiently. Today's solar panels are more efficient than ever and are smaller and thinner than their older counterparts, and they are enjoying a resurgence in popularity all across America and especially in states where the sun is strongest.
The panels trap the energy from the sun and heat water that is naturally circulated into and through a collector. The heated water is stored in a heavily insulated tank that is similar to conventional hot water tanks, and it is kept there until it is needed. In order to help heat a home as well as water, some systems can be incorporated into radiant floor heating pipes. The water heated by the sun is allowed to circulate throughout the floor of a home, heating it naturally and efficiently at a much lower cost.
Although installation costs for solar power systems are relatively high, they pay for themselves over time and never need to be replaced or maintained. They must be properly installed to work right, and the panels demand a south-facing position where they can receive the sun's rays during the majority of daylight hours. Such systems are rapidly become the alternative heating method of choice for environmentally conscious homeowners who want to keep heating bills down while helping the planet too.
GlobalSolarCenter.com specializes in providing a clean energy future and everything you need to know about solar costs and potential savings. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Solar water heating systems are hardly a new idea. Crude mechanisms were popular in sunny American states in as early as the year 1900. Solar panels somewhat similar to those used today were placed on home roofs of entire subdivisions in Florida from the 1920's to the 1940's. However, many Americans thought these early panels were obtrusive and detracted from a home's look, and the practice fell into public disfavor for a few decades.
In the 1970's, the skyrocketing costs of home heating oil led President Jimmy Carter to offer tax breaks to those who wished to tap into solar power again. The new solar panels were better able to concentrate the heat generated by the sun and used it much more efficiently. Today's solar panels are more efficient than ever and are smaller and thinner than their older counterparts, and they are enjoying a resurgence in popularity all across America and especially in states where the sun is strongest.
The panels trap the energy from the sun and heat water that is naturally circulated into and through a collector. The heated water is stored in a heavily insulated tank that is similar to conventional hot water tanks, and it is kept there until it is needed. In order to help heat a home as well as water, some systems can be incorporated into radiant floor heating pipes. The water heated by the sun is allowed to circulate throughout the floor of a home, heating it naturally and efficiently at a much lower cost.
Although installation costs for solar power systems are relatively high, they pay for themselves over time and never need to be replaced or maintained. They must be properly installed to work right, and the panels demand a south-facing position where they can receive the sun's rays during the majority of daylight hours. Such systems are rapidly become the alternative heating method of choice for environmentally conscious homeowners who want to keep heating bills down while helping the planet too.
GlobalSolarCenter.com specializes in providing a clean energy future and everything you need to know about solar costs and potential savings. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
If you want to use energy-saving technologies into practice, contact the specialists from the company's Online Solar Panels.
