With environmental debates taking center stage all across media platforms, solar energy has become a term that we often hear. However, not many of us know the main facts about it in detail. If you’re aspiring to go solar and want to start getting the information from scratch, then you’ve come to the right place. Solar energy has become a term many people throw around in discussion and yet are completely unaware of its implications. If you’re planning to go solar, then here mentioned below are six things that you need to know about solar energy. The points, however, are brief and to the point, this article plans to provide you with basic information so you can get your research started.
1. Abundance:
The first question that comes to mind is why we should prefer solar energy over any other medium? Well, one reason amongst many is the abundance of solar energy. While other non-renewable sources are hard to come by, limited and have extremely high prices, solar energy does not have to face such kind of problems. Solar energy is abundant and is available all around the world, which means we won’t have to pay highs taxes associated with importing energy sources. If you’re wondering how much solar energy hits the earth’s surface, the answer is 173,000 terawatts. Even if we harness half of it we can, we can meet the energy needs of the whole world.
2. A rising trend
With various environmental disasters becoming more common each year and increasing in intensity, people are now more inclined towards measures that can reduce environmental degradation and lessen the occurrence of such disasters. A great way to do so is to use more renewable energy so that harmful greenhouse gasses aren’t emitted. Solar energy is a popular alternative to such problems.
Various projects are taking place all around the world to convert to solar energy. The US is becoming one of the leading countries in solar energy. While previous solar panels weren’t as effective they should have been; recently, its efficiency has been increased to 48%. While it may not sound much right now, that is more than some of our non-renewable energy plants.
3. Smart, economical option
Another benefit that attracts a lot of users apart from abundance is the fact that it can reduce your bills by a significant measure. Whether it’s for your house or your business, investing in solar energy is bound to lower the cost of your energy usage. Apart from reducing your electricity bills, it also increases the resale value of your house. So if you’re planning to sell your house any time soon then, this can prove to be a reasonable option.
Rather than buying a solar energy system with a large upfront payment, you can get it on installment plans that are customized to your needs. Finding out this information isn’t hard either. All you have to do is type “solar Chicago” (if you live in Chicago) in the Google search tab, and you’ll have all the relevant information that you need. While you will have to spend a few extra bucks while getting the system installed it is worth the cost and the solar energy will start lowering your bills the very same month that you install it.
4. Positioning and Area
The positioning of the solar system is also necessary in order to get the maximum energy yield. The positioning of your house or building is also a factor that can affect the energy yield. For example, if your building is positioned in a way that the sun shines on it for longer hours, it will generate more energy. Make sure that you study the pattern of sunlight and how often your building will be able to get it. For example, if your roof hardly gets sunlight for 3 hours, then maybe going solar isn’t the right option for you.
Apart from that, you should be aware of how many panels you need to install in order to get the desired yield. If your house gets regular sunlight, then a few panels can also get the job done. However, if your house gets sunlight for a lesser amount of time, you’ll have to invest in more solar panels to store more energy. In doing so, you need to be concerned about the area of your roof, and if it can support such a big system.
5. Environment-friendly
One of the primary reasons why people are flocking towards this option is because it has no greenhouse gases; it doesn’t pollute the air or the water. Looking at so many upsides, however, render us blind to one aspect of solar energy. During the panel production process, such gases are emitted and are harmful to a certain degree. However, the question that then arises is which one is more harmful? Which method of energy production causes more pollution? It isn’t about which energy source is a 100% clean but rather which process can lead to better environmental conditions. Think about it as a phase where you have to choose the lesser of two evils until further advancements are made.
6. The mechanics involved
One should also know about the mechanics involved in the process. While it isn’t something many people go for, it is important. Knowing about the parts will give you a more comprehensive understanding of this process to gain energy. While solar panels are the only part that many people know about there are other components to capture, invert, and store energy. Apart from solar panels, you must have an inverter and a racking. Racking is used to mount your solar energy system. You also need batteries to make sure the generated energy does not go to waste and a controller which determines the rate of energy storage.
If you’ve gone through the article mentioned above, you now have a more comprehensive understanding of the matter. Don’t take this as your only piece of research. You should try to read up about all the mentioned points in detail before you make the final decision.
