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Residential Solar Power

We are daily being made aware of the ever-diminishing supply of fossil fuels on our planet. At the same time, we are being encouraged in global concern about greenhouse gases which are having such a devastating effect world-wide.

There is corresponding growing interest, as costs mount for our traditional ways of generating power, in residential solar power . This alternative power source, that is our sun, has been used by man for many thousands of years. Only relatively recently has the sun s power been made commercially available as residential solar power .

Gradually the cost of installation is reducing as greater numbers of people find that residential solar power is their best choice. Two types of residential solar power exist.

Solar thermal energy is a fairly simple process demanding the installation of solar panels. Water passes through these panels, is heated and transferred to an insulated tank where it is stored for future household use.

The second type of residential solar power has a wider application in the home: solar electric power uses the sun s light to create electricity that becomes available for use in the home. Photovoltaic cells required for this are generally roof mounted.

It is a fallacy that hot sunshine is essential for successful for solar generation and in fact the level of efficiency in the photovoltaic cells can be adversely affected by great heat. However, on a cloudy day, though the system will continue to work, far less electricity will be produced.

The photovoltaic cells for domestic solar power are normally roof mounted and carefully positioned so as to gain every possible advantage of sunlight. If, however, you are unable, or do not wish to have such a feature on your roof, the cells may be mounted on a specially made frame on the ground where they will work equally well, if carefully positioned.

The durability of residential solar power is a fact in its favor as there are no moving parts to wear out and inert materials are used in the production of the cells, there should be many years of trouble-free power production. Residential solar power is also likely to require little maintenance other than a light hosing of the modules every few months.

Solar systems for domestic solar power are made to suit all sizes of household. It is even possible for the domestic user to purchase a small number of photovoltaic panels and then add to that number as demand increases.

There is no doubt that solar power holds enormous benefits for mankind and for the environment, there are few worries about the continued availability of this source - it is estimated that the sun will produce power for another five billion years.

Article Published: Friday 14th September 2007