Precautions When Using Solar Power

Alternative forms of renewable energy saves money for homeowners who want to invest in such projects as a residential solar system. When working with solar power for your home, be aware not only of the advantages but also the disadvantages of working with solar electricity.

Benefits of Solar Power

The major benefit is less of a dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are smelly and costly. Burning them has contributed to the Greenhouse Effect that is affecting the polar ice caps.

More importantly, fossil fuels will eventually run out. When that happens, we will literally be in the dark without a viable option for alternative energy. This is where solar power comes into play.

Be Careful with Solar Electricity

Solar power is not cheap. Even with the tax incentives and loans, you might still have to shoulder a portion of the cost. This has some people turning to DIY solar electricity projects. Here are some tips to know with DIY solar projects.

• Find a solar kit that is very detailed. You don’t want to get started and then find out you are missing a component.

• Be sure you are committed to the project before starting. DIY involves building our own solar panels, finding our own components and hiring someone to install the solar panels if you can’t do that part. You don’t want your rooftop solar panels to come crashing through your window or smashing to the ground after all of your hard work.

• Hire an electrician to wire your system. Unless you pay for the company to come out and install your solar system, you need an electrician. No one else is qualified. You could end up electrocuting yourself or short-circuiting something that could start a fire.

• Know your neighborhood regulations and city ordinances about solar panel mounting before you buy the system. It is a costly mistake to find out that you don’t have the room or the permission to put up big solar panels. You probably could have opted for solar roof tiles.

• Solar electricity may not be a good idea if you live in an area without much sun. The cost you will pay for the residential system won’t be deferred by your savings because there won’t be any. In a shady part of the country, try another alternative energy source like wind energy.

Are you considering residential solar electricity? Know what you are getting into and evaluate your commitment before investing in the project.