Residential Solar Power | Using the Sun Power at Home

What exactly is residential solar power? A few years ago nobody would have been able to answer that question, for there was no such thing. However, over the last few years and with the commercial development of the photovoltaic cell, a hand down from space research, residential solar power has become a very real thing. Solar energy demand has risen by 25% per year over the last 15 years as opposed to hydrocarbon energy demand growing by less than 3% per year. The two countries displaying the largest growth in residential solar power are Japan and Germany, the governments of both of which countries having given large incentives to any homeowner converting to it.

Residential solar power is now taking off in a big way in many First World countries, and any number of companies specializing in solar power systems and kits can be found on the Internet. There are two major ways in which solar power can be used in the home. One can harness the Sun's energy and convert it into electricity to run all the home's utilities - there is an added incentive to converting to this system. If your power system is making more electricity than is needed, it can be fed back into the Grid at and your account credited. The other major residential use of solar power is in the household hot water and heating systems. Replacing your gas or electric water heater with solar can effectively reduce water heating costs by up to 80% per year as well as reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere by more than 50 tons over a 20 year period. 

Before taking any major steps in converting to solar power it is advisable to check with local authorities to see whether the contemplated system meets with regulations. Also some States offer incentives to people taking the solar route - as an example a California resident installed a system costing nearly $55,000 and received a $21,550 rebate from the California Energy Commission and a further $5000 tax credit from the state, bringing his net costs to only $28,450 - just 51% of the total costs. The net amount taken out as a low interest loan would probably mean repayments at a net saving when compared with the previous monthly cost of electricity. In addition the value of the home increased by $10,000 more than the net cost of installing the system!