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by: AdrianFletcher
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It seems that the cost of gas, electricity and oil to provide power to our homes continues to rise every year. This rise often seems to outstrip average inflation. We are often told that there are a number of legitimate reasons for this inflation. One that may not be so well publicized is that many utilities companies are privatized and have to run at a profit. Indeed, the management would not be doing their job if they did not turn a profit.

However the reason most often given for price rises is that the resources that create electricity are becoming scarce. Oil, natural gas and coal are finite resources and are becoming harder to find, harder to extract and harder to deliver to the consumer. Thus the consumer must cover the increased costs.

From this perspective, people are becoming more interested in alternatives to traditional generated power for the home. One alternative that has had a long and successful history of providing making with energy is solar power. This article will cover how to run a home on solar power using the latest innovations in the solar energy field.

A popular way to run a home with solar power is to utilize the Sun's thermal energy. Heat from the Sun can heat water. This can be used as hot water or the heat in the water can be used indirectly to provide warmth in the house.

The way this works is by exposing a metal surface to the Sun. The metal plate will absorb the heat and become hot. This process can be made more efficient if the metal surface is painted black and the areas that do not come into contact with the Sun are insulated to prevent the heat escaping.

By passing colder water past the hot plate, the heat will be transferred to the water. This would create hot water. Depending on the heat of the hot plate, this water could be used directly in the home or it could be connected to the normal hot water boiler. The solar pre-heated water can then by heated to an adequate temperature for the home. The pre-heating should save on energy used by the normal hot water boiler.

Thus a solar water heating system can save on one of the more expensive items on a normal households utility bills.

Sunlight can also be used to create electricity. The technology that utilizes sunlight is known as photovoltaics (PV). A PV cell is made from a silicon based semi conductor. The PV cell reacts with sunlight to displace an electron. The flow of an electron from a negative to a positive terminal is the creation of electric current. By increasing the number of PV cells connected in series you can increase the voltage between the positive and negative terminals and the current of the electricity.

This is direct current (DC) that can be stored in a battery. It can also be converted to Alternating current with the aid of a power inverter. AC can be used to transport electricity or, more importantly, used to power the home.

Solar panels that you may have seen on a few roofs around your neighborhood are the practical application of photovoltaics. One panel is a group of PV cells aligned in a parallel or series configuration to increase the output of electricity. The efficiency of solar panels has improved over the years. The costs to create and install a solar panel have also reduced over the years.

Solar panels have become easier to install as utility companies become more conducive to solar power. Many states have agreements whereby the electricity company must buy electricity from the household at retail price. This can make installation and viability of solar power more acceptable.

The advantages of this is that the utility company will install the system and the home is still attached to the grid as a safeguard should the sun not shine or a problem occurs with one of the components of the solar power system.

The next step is to go off the grid completely. This is more responsibility for the individual and more knowledge of the system is needed. They will also need a back up energy generation system should there be any problems.

About the Author

For info on solar power tax rebates and residential solar power grants and how solar power can conserve energy visit our site.

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