Three Ways To Install Solar Energy For Homes

Solar energy for homes can be used in a number of different ways. While most people imagine solar panels providing electricity, they can actually be installed in more ways than you may realize. Here’s a quick guide to three main ways in which solar panels are installed for residential purposes.

1) Skylights

Solar panels can be installed in conjunction with skylights to maximize the possible benefits of this energy source. The skylights provide a completely free and natural way to let light into rooms of the home during the day, which will reduce the need for artificial lighting and greatly reduce energy bills.

Because of the fact that the skylight includes a solar panel, which is then wired through the roofing, this can then be connected to various lights throughout the home to provide lighting in individual rooms during the night. In this way, skylights provide two benefits in one installation!

2) Solar Shingles

An alternative to solar panels on the roof is to install solar shingles. Solar shingles are a form of photovoltaic cell designed to look like conventional asphalt shingles. These are easier to install (if your roof is in the right position to the sun), and make use of wiring that runs into the attic to provide solar energy for homes. This can be used to power lights throughout the home, outlets and other appliances.

The benefits of installing shingles over panels is that they can blend in completely with the look of your roof. They’re even weather tight and help to protect your roof against the elements. However, if you want to add solar panels to an existing structure and want to angle them perfectly towards then sun, panels may be a better choice than shingles.

3) Solar Thermal Collectors

This kind of solar energy for homes works by absorbing heat from the sun. This is the kind of system used to heat water through the home, and makes use of “collectors” (solar panels) to collect the heat. Water then heats up as it passes through solar tubes before being pumped into a hot water cylinder or boiler. Water is heated throughout the sunlight hours of the day, but can be stored for use later.

This kind of system can usually be expected to cover all of your hot water during summer, and a third of your hot water in winter if you live in a country where it gets colder.

Is Solar Power Worth It?

If you pay for professionals to install your solar panels then it could take years for you to make your initial investment back. But once you have, all the energy you use from those panels will be free! There are also a number of incentives and tax credits put in place by the government to help you get past the initial cost. In time, solar energy for homes will more than pay for itself.