Solar Energy

General facts about Solar Energy

• Solar Energy is better for the environment than traditional forms of energy.
• Solar energy has many uses such as electricity production and heating of water through photovoltaic cells and directly for drying clothes.
• Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools, power cars, for attic fans, calculators and other small appliances. It produces lighting for indoors or outdoors.
• You can even cook food with solar energy.
• Solar Energy is becoming more and more popular. The worldwide demand for Solar Energy is currently greater than supply.
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Facts about Solar Energy systems:

• A home solar system is typically made up of solar panels, an inverter, a battery, a charge controller, wiring and support structure.
• A 1-kilowatt home solar system takes about 1-2 days to install and costs around US$10,000, but can vary greatly and does not take into account any incentives offered by the government.
• A 1-kilowatt home solar system consists of about 10-12 solar panels and requires about 100 square feet of installation area.
• A 1 kilowatt home solar system will generate approximately 1,600 kilowatt hours per year in a sunny climate (receiving 5.5 hours of sunshine per day) and approximately 750 kilowatt hours per year in a cloudy climate (receiving 2.5 hours of sunshine per day).
• A 1-kilowatt home solar system will prevent approximately 170 lbs. of coal from being burned, 300 lbs of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and 105 gallons of water from being consumed each month!
• About 40 solar cells are usually combined into a solar panel and around 10-12 panels mounted in an array facing due North to receive maximum sunlight.
• The system usually comes with a 5-year warranty, although the solar panels are warranted for 20.
• Relying on the battery back up, a solar energy system can provide electricity 24x7, even on cloudy days and at night.
• Solar panels come in various colours.Solar energy can be collected and stored in batteries, reflected, insulated, absorbed and transmitted.