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It has been calculated that on average of the energy the sun produces that touches the earth at high noon is about 1,000 watts per square meter. Or another way of looking at it is 1 kWh/m2. The United States Department of Energy has estimated that in a 100 square mile area in the southwest of the United States receives in on day the total amount of electricity consumed in the daily in the United States. Solar Energy Advantages Solar power for homes via photovoltaic power systems is the most commonly thought of method. There are many advantages of owning and operating a residential solar power system. * Today photovoltaic manufactures are warranting their panels for a minimum of twenty years. * Solar energy production is quite. There are no moving parts or machines involved, it is just light and electricity. * The payoff point, which is the point where the savings generated by the residential solar power system has paid for the installation cost, is between two and three years for the average installation. * The operation of a residential solar power system is virtually maintenance free. The only maintenance required would be to check on and replace worn out batteries that are part of the battery pack. Why isn't everyone using solar power? There are some disadvantages to solar energy that you need to be aware of. These need to be taken into account as you consider installing a residential solar power system in your house. * Solar power does not work well powering devices that use an electric heating element such as an electric hot water heater. * The production of electricity is uneven throughout the day. In the morning and evening it is less than in the middle of the day. * The system does not produce electricity at night or when it is overcast. * A residential solar power system once installed becomes part of the house. When you move, the system stays with the house. * Replacing the roofing will require the solar panels and mounting hardware to be removed. After the roofing work has completed, it will all need to be reinstalled and connected to your residential solar power system. * The cost per peak watt to have a residential solar power system installed is still much higher than what the electric utility company charges per kilowatt hour. * Hail and other falling objects can damage the solar panels to the point they no longer work and the entire system is down until they are replaced. * Home owners insurance or hazard insurance may require a special rider to cover the replacement cost of the solar power system. To have a 3.6 kW photovoltaic power system costs about $9 per peak watt on average. The installation cost would be around $32,000. There are some tax incentives and rebates to help off set the installation cost, but there is a sizable investment that still needs to be made out of your own pocket. The 3.6 kW solar power system will provide about half of the power needs of the average home. You will still need to purchase electricity from the electric company, just not as much. These are some of the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy that you need to be aware of.
Article Source: http://www.greenbuildingarticles.com
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