Are you interested in learning some facts about solar panels?
One of the goals of the world today is to find a renewable energy source. This is to replace our consumption and reliance on burning fossil fuels. What’s great is, with the advancements we’ve made over the past decade alone, we already have a lot of ways to produce renewable energy.
Among them is solar energy, which is a growing trend in residential housing nowadays. Transitioning to solar energy and using solar panels is becoming mainstream for homeowners. Soon, we can expect that every household to have solar panels installed.
If you’re still not convinced, these are the nine facts about solar power that you need to know. Read what we have below and see what makes solar energy the superior choice.
1. Solar Energy Can Power the Earth
To start off the solar facts, did you know that an hour of solar energy charge is enough to power the entire planet? It produces enough energy to top that of the world’s yearly power consumption.
The whole idea of solar panels is to use this energy and convert it into electricity that we can use. How does a solar panel do this? How do solar panels work?
They work thanks to photovoltaic conversion. The idea is that the UV rays stimulate the atoms that are in the cells of these solar panels. Once stimulated, electrons jump from atom to atom, and these jumps are enough to generate electricity for the device to use for your home.
2. Direct Sunlight Isn’t Mandatory
One of the arguments and supposed weakness of solar panels is that it relies on sunlight to make energy. However, with improvements in technology, it can produce energy even without direct sunlight. It does so by capturing a different spectrum of light and using it to power whatever’s connected to it.
This means, that even on a cloudy day, your panels will still work as intended. You can still expect it to produce energy and work for you. It’s a great way to ensure that you don’t run out of energy simply because of poor weather conditions.
3. Super Environment-Friendly
If your home is already solar-powered, you have reduced up to 100 tons of CO2 within 30 years. This is because solar energy is a direct translation to clean and sustainable energy. You are reducing your carbon footprint significantly, improving the environmental conditions of the area around you.
Other energy sources rely on burning fossil fuels, which increase CO2 emissions. Solar panels don’t do this. The technology focuses on photovoltaic conversion to produce electricity and solar heat.
With the absence of fuel burning, you’ll notice significant improvements in the air quality around you. It’s a great way to promote the health of the nature surrounding your home, and of the people who are present within.
4. A Self-Paying Investment
Indeed, installing your own home solar power system may be pricy at first. However, you won’t have to pay anything more unless you’ll want to add more to your home. Trust us, once you experience the benefits of solar power, you’ll want to add more panels and batteries.
This is because you won’t have to pay any electric bill with a solar energy system installed. You’ll produce your own energy, which means you won’t have to take some from the grid. Your solar setup can even reduce your current bill by supplying power back to the grid.
Depending on the state, another benefit you will enjoy is the tax break that some states allow. Some states recognize the importance of sustainability, so they promote it in every household. You get to save even more money while helping out the environment this way.
5. Maintenance Free
They may be one-time installations, but what about the maintenance cost? Maintaining solar panels is not a difficult task, all they need is proper cleaning. Aside from that, you need to make sure that they’re connected to the proper line.
Ensure that the panels are not obstructed by dirt, leaves, or branches. If some dirt gets caked on the panel, use water and a damp cloth to wipe it off. That’s all you need to do to take care of your solar panels.
6. Installed by the Millions
There are over a million solar panel installations in the homes of America. The US market for solar panels is growing every day, with California having the largest solar energy consumption.
If you’re looking to be a part of those households, all you need to do is have one installed on your home. You can do it yourself, or hire professionals like Blue Raven Solar to get the job done right the first time.
7. Solar Energy Powered Airplane
The technology of solar energy has gone beyond powering houses and small land vehicles. Nowadays, even planes are getting solar power treatment. The Solar Impulse is a plane that has traveled over 25,000 miles around the world without a drop of liquid fuel.
This makes it the first solar-powered airplane to travel around the world. In early 2016, a professional Swiss pilot departed from Abu Dhabi with the plane. The global flight included photos of its travel, proving the growing potential of solar energy.
8. Solar Communities are Popping Up Around the Country
Among the most interesting facts about solar energy has something to do with how it brings people together. Instead of having individual houses with solar panels installed, some communities are gathering every household to participate in a community-wide solar project.
These communities often have a central hub where all panels get placed. These are then connected to the houses throughout the neighborhood. It’s a grand effort that ensures everyone in the community helps the environment.
9. Solar Technology is Versatile
You can see the integration of solar power into every aspect of our life. There are products now that you can use to charge your gadgets with the help of solar power. Soon enough, you will see solar-powered cities that produce no carbon footprint at all.
Learn Some Facts About Solar Panels Today
Solar energy is the future, and it’s time you see the impact it’s had on the planet on every scale. These solar energy facts will remind you that it’s not too late for you to start helping the environment. Be a part of the change and have a panel installed today!
Do you want to learn more facts about solar panels? Check out more of our guides and posts to learn all you can today!
Image Attribution:
Adobe Stock royalty-free image #130582530, ‘solar panel on the roof after snow in winter’ uploaded by nd700, standard license purchased from https://stock.adobe.com/images/download/130582530; file retrieved on December 17th, 2018. License details available at https://stock.adobe.com/license-terms – image is licensed under the Adobe Stock Standard License