Top advantages of solar energy

Solar power is the wave of the future. It’s also the wave of the present. The sun has been shining for over four and a half billion years. Humans have been using the power of the sun since prehistoric times but we now understand how to harness solar power much more efficiently. 

Solar Power Basics

Solar power gathers the natural energy of the sun to produce electricity. Specifically, solar cells capture certain wavelengths of solar radiation and convert them to electricity for our homes, businesses and many other applications. Photovoltaic cells are commonly made from different types of silicon. Sunlight takes about eight minutes to reach earth and a few seconds longer to make contact with your solar panels. In the United States, solar panels need to face south to gather optimal sunlight. Solar power is measured like all electricity- in watts (kilowatts, megawatts, gigawatts, and terawatts). One thousand watts equal one kilowatt, 1,000 kilowatts equal one megawatt, 1,000 megawatts equal one gigawatt, and 1,000 gigawatts equal one terawatt. Most solar panels have 200- or 250-watt capacities. The majority of solar panels can produce eight to ten kilowatts of energy per square foot.

Solar is cheaper, safer, and quiet too

You can use solar power to run air conditioners, water heaters, and anything natural gas, electricity, or oil currently fuels. It’s the cheaper, safer, and more eco-friendly method of power.
When the sun isn’t shining, you can use a battery as a backup for your solar panel system. However, most modern solar units use net metering (a system hooked up to your city’s power grid that measures the difference between the energy you provide to the grid and the energy you use from the grid). For controlling energy deficits, net metering is an easier method than storing excess solar power in batteries. Solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to produce electricity, but direct sunlight produces the most usable energy.

Health benefits of solar energy

Solar power is the cleanest, most sustainable, and most renewable energy source we know of in the world. Aside from a little pollution given off during panel manufacturing, solar power produces no emissions. The health effects of breathing polluted air are many. Pollution affects as many people as HIV or malaria and has the most damaging effects on children, older adults, and all living plants and animals. Another less publicized advantage of solar power is that it does not create any noise pollution; solar panels silently create energy from the sun’s rays.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system!

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.