A Complete Guide to Solar Panels

Solar energy has become extremely popular in recent years. As the world continues to prioritize more sustainable products, solar panels stand out as the most eco-friendly way to generate electricity. Unlike traditional energy sources, they don’t require intensive resources to function.

What’s more, running panels doesn’t generate any toxic waste. In short, they are the perfect energy source of the future, which everyone has access to. However, many solar skeptics out there claim solar energy is not all it’s made out to be.

To dispel some of these myths, we’ve decided to create a complete guide to solar panels—what they are, how they work, and all the benefits you’ll reap if you install them today!

What Are Solar Panels?

Solar power is a huge point of discussion in the public sphere. However, even though everyone is always discussing its advantages and disadvantages, many forget to explain the two most basic facts of solar panels—what they are and how they work.

For starters, solar panels are devices that absorb energy from the sun and convert it into usable electricity. The panels contain a special photovoltaic surface comprised of phosphorous, silicon, and boron layers. When the sun’s photons strike the photovoltaic surface, they force electrons from their atomic bonds.

The solar cells generate an electrical field, which pulls free-ranging electrons, thus producing electricity. Though many claim solar panels aren’t as efficient as traditional energy sources, this isn’t the case.

Thanks to recent advancements in solar tech, even the most basic set of panels can produce more than enough energy to power the average home. Though the panels don’t work as efficiently in the shade, they can still harness sunlight. Therefore, they’re the ideal energy choice regardless of the time of year or where you live.

How to Switch to Solar Power in 3 Easy Steps

Solar panels have many incredible benefits, like being eco-friendly, cost-effective, and entirely sustainable. However, the idea of switching to solar is still intimidating to some people. Its detractors claim installing panels is way too complicated for the average person. But this is a common misconception.

Because solar power has become more mainstream, it’s now easier than ever to get your own set of panels. In fact, you can do so today in just three easy steps.

Figure Out if Your Home is Compatible With Solar Panels

To be clear, solar panels can work for everyone. Nevertheless, it’s important to flag that they work for some homes better than others. So, if you’re planning on going solar, you need to figure out what kind of panels will work best for your home.

For example, it’s quite common for people to install their panels on the roof. This is because the panels work best on a south-facing rooftop with a 45-degree slope. However, if your roof is too old or in the shade, then a set of backyard panels may be more appropriate.

Calculate Your Energy Costs

The average American home consumes around 10,715 kilowatt-hours or kWh of electricity per year, which amounts to about 893 kWh per month. These numbers vary depending on the size of the home and its location. Therefore, it’s important to choose the right solar system to meet your unique energy needs. The best way to do this is to first calculate how much electricity you use on a monthly basis.

Once you have that number, you can use a PV Watts tool calculator to estimate how much energy your solar panel system will generate and at what price.

Define Your Solar Panel Budget

Possibly the most important part of going solar is how much it’s going to cost. Even the most basic systems require an upfront investment of around $3,500. Larger systems are naturally more expensive and can go for a whopping $35,000. Who you hire to install your panels will also affect how much money you’ll spend.

Some companies, like Atlantic Key Energy, offer solar installation services at very affordable prices. Not only that, but they also give users many other benefits. A few of these include constant customer support and a 25-year warranty on their system. So if you want to get the best-priced system for your home, be sure to do two things—define your budget and choose the right company to install your panels.

To Sum Up

Solar panels are the energy source of the future. They’re an eco-friendly, entirely renewable way to generate electricity at a drastically reduced price. Yet despite their many benefits, a lot of people still think going solar is too complicated. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. With the right steps, you can start helping the environment today with your very own set of panels!