A simple guide to home solar energy

As our planet ensure all kinds of global and environmental issues, there is an increase in the number of people considering and adapting their lifestyle to live a more sustainable, healthy and plastic free life, but where do we begin?

Besides the obvious solutions such as eating less meat, using recyclable bags instead of plastic shopping bags, reducing water waste, and using LED lights. One of the biggest steps we can make in our life is to adopt and install renewable energy solutions in our homes, this means using solar panels to generate power. By using solar panels, you benefit by not only saving our environment by lessening your carbon footprint, but you also save, by reducing your electricity bill by up to 75%.

Sounds like a great deal with only pros and no cons? How is it possible? Where do I begin?

Today Entran will provide you with everything you need to know about home solar panels!

Let’s start with solar panels for your home: the pros and cons .

Pros:

You are doing the earth a big favor! Instead of using power generated electronics and electrical systems which is the result of burning down trees and tons of coal, you are using the solar energy absorbed by the panels on your roof! No air pollution! No deforestation!
Electricity can be expensive, especially in the summer. With solar energy you won't need to turn off the air conditioner or huddle round the heater just to save a few bucks . If you are using solar panels, you will see your electric bill is no longer like a vacuum attached to your bank account. Actually, it’s even possible you will have extra energy that you can sell to the energy company to make money!
If you live in the US, the country’s Energy Grid is completely outdated. In fact, a decent amount of the energy grid was constructed over 100 years ago (some of it actually dating back to the 1880s)! Most of the equipment in the grid is already running 20 years past its life expectancy. We may face a national-wide power breakdown anytime in the next few years if the U.S. energy grid doesn’t get a 673-billion-dollar overhaul. I don’t think you want to leave your family unprepared for the possible widespread energy crisis. Installing solar panels is the solution for the potential power cut and the only way you will be able to gain complete control over your home and ahcieve energy independence.

Cons:

The initial cost is high with the cost of the panels and installation. It may be hard initially to save money on the quality panels but you can save some by installing by yourself . It is not as difficult as it sounds if you have a complete installation guide for solar panels for home .
Nobody can guarantee sunshine anytime and anywhere, but it’s safe to say solar panels are worth more in California than in Alaska. Before you decide to invest in solar panels for your home, make sure the location of your house and the local weather are suitable for installing solar panels.
It’s a long-term big investment for your family. You should not expect an immediate full return on your money. The panels are expensive but they last at least 25 years. You will be saving money on the power bill dollar by dollar.

How do solar panels work?

In short, solar panels are usually made out of photovoltaic cells. The cells are sandwiched between layers of silicone or other semi-conducting materials. Each layer has different electronic properties that energize when hit by photons from sunlight and create an electric field.

Solar panels generate a direct current of electricity and then the electricity passes through an inverter to convert it into an alternating current which can be funneled into the grid or used by the home directly.

You can check out this video by TED for more detailed information.

How much are solar panels for home?

As I mentioned in the previous section the cost of solar panels is costly and consists of two parts: the former one is the cost of the installation which is possible to do by yourself and the latter one is the cost of panel kits.

Below is the current average price of solar panel installations for the most common residential solar systems installed in U.S., sized from 4 kW to 20kW.

solar panel installation cost by system size in 2020

As for the cost of solar panels, they are usually priced by the watt. Therefore, “cost per watt” is frequently used when we talk about the value of home solar systems instead of “total cost” because it allows us to compare systems of different sizes.

So how much do solar panels cost for an average home?

The average cost of a solar panel system for a home in May 2020 in U.S. is $3.18 per watt, making an average 7 kW installed residential solar power system $22,260 before the 26% federal solar tax credit and $16,472 after the tax credit is applied.

If you want to know exactly how much it’s going to cost you, here is some reference for different states as an example.

How do I maintain solar panel kits? Is it expensive to maintain?

Are you worried that you need to climb on the roof and do maintenance every few weeks?

Well you don't have to worry about that!

Once you have installed the solar panel kits on your roof, there is nearly no maintenance effort or fee required.

The only thing you need to do is make sure that ON THE ROOF the solar panel kits are always clean and not shaded by other objects.

Below are 2 simple tips you need to keep in mind during everyday life to monitor the solar panels.

As I’ve already mentioned, the solar panels shouldn’t be in the shadows so that they can absorb as much sunlight as possible in order to increase the efficiency of energy production.
Check the inverters regularly and make sure the blinking lights are green. If they are not or anything else is unusual, consult your solar panel company or customer service agent.

Besides, saving our environment and saving you money, solar panels have a very long lifespan. Once installed, they can last up to 40 years! The standard warranty is 25 years with little effort in maintenance.

Do I need to clean solar panel kits? How to clean solar panel kits?

It does not take a lot of effort in the upkeep and maintenance of solar panels, although that does not mean you do not need to clean them. That being said cleaning is also not a big issue because rain and wind help you to remove most of the dirt.

How often do you need to clean the solar panel kits by yourself?

Well it all depends on the type of solar panels you have installed and the environment in which you live.

For example, if you live in the southwestern United States, you’ll need to clean your panels more frequently because it rains less there, so you won’t even get that a small rinse of your panels every few days or weeks. It’s also a good idea to clean your panels more often if your home is near a highway, airport, or factory because of air pollution. If you live in a quiet neighborhood, you may just need to clean the kits twice a year.

You can always get advice from your solar panel manufacturer and you will be able to find out more by simply monitoring the efficiency display. If you see there is a drop in efficiency, you should stand in your yard and check if there are any possible visible objects shading the kits. If not, there is a chance it’s because of dust gathering on the kit which in this case you would need to get on the roof to clean your panels.

Really? I need to get on the roof and clean the solar panel kits?

Yes, you do! However, it is not as scary as it sounds! There are a few tips to help you.

Prepare a biodegradable soap, a wiper, a long-handle brush and a bucket. Mix soap with water in the bucket, dip the brush in it and gently wipe the solar panels. If there is something stuck on the kits, use the wiper to remove it carefully.
NEVER use any abrasive sponge and harsh materials when cleaning solar panels. These may cause damage to the glass, resulting in a high maintenance fee or even the need to install a new kit.
Make sure you have safety ropes or any other support if you need to walk on the roof!
You can avoid walking or climbing on the roof by opting to clean the kits one by one using a powerful garden hose to spray down the panels. In most of the cases, this will be enough to get them clean.

If you really do not have enough time to clean your solar panels and you want to make sure they are at the peak of their efficient production levels, you can install automated cleaners that work similar to a sprinkler system or you may opt to schedule an appointment with the various solar panel cleaning companies.

Do solar panels work on cloudy days?

The simple answer is yes! Solar panels do work on cloudy days because photovoltaic panels can use direct or indirect sunlight to generate power. As long as there is enough light to see, your solar panels will be working generating electricity for you. When it’s cloudy, they can generate about 10-25% of their normal power output.

Do solar panels work on rainy days?

Yes!

For the same reason as they work on cloudy days. Actually, rain even helps to keep your panels operating efficiently by washing away any dust or dirt that may have congregated, but it would not be as efficient and effective as a bright sunny day.

Do solar panels work on snowy days?

Yes!

If you do not forget to remove the snow from your panels, they will still be operating and working hard generating and providing your home with engery!

Do solar panels work at night?

Nope!

Although they can generate some energy from other light sources such as street lights and even the moon, the output is very low and therefore solar panels are not operative at night. On the plus side the solar panels will have generated more than enough power during the day to last you through the evening.