Summary: View some of the most common uses and reasons why homeowners in the USA should consider using solar power for their home.

Common Solar Power Uses For Homes

Choosing to use solar power in your home is a smart move for any homeowner and one that is becoming increasingly affordable. Using solar power from the sun’s energy as a way to heat up your home and operate your electrical devices and major appliances is not only sensible and resourceful, it is also an environmentally friendly method of generating energy. 

More homes in the USA are turning to solar power for their electrical and heating needs due to consumers becoming better informed as to how a solar power home can effectively cut energy bills by more than half or more. Also when it comes to selling your home, having solar power installed can not only add to the value of your home but it will also help make an impression on prospective home buyers and become a big selling point.  

Solar energy in the home is mainly used as a source of power to operate all the electrical appliances needed to get through the day. Home solar power uses are the same as getting your electricity from the main or local grid system; they can heat your home, provide you with hot water and lighting, and heat the water in a Jacuzzi, hot tub or swimming pool. One of the main advantages to using solar power is that the energy absorbed during the day can then be used during the night if you have a battery backup system.   

There are various methods to how you bring solar power into your home. Generally it is accessed through the use of solar electric panels that can either be a free standing system or installed onto the roof and be positioned to attract the suns energy. There are also panels of peel and stick laminates that can be bought as a cheaper version.  Which system you ultimately opt for will partly depend on the type of roof structure your house has and your budget and specific energy needs.  

More often than not, solar power systems are installed on a rooftop; a typical home in the U.S. has sufficient roof area to hold the required quantity of solar panels or system necessary to produce adequate solar power for the needs of a residential home. 

Solar panels have solar cells contained within them that trap the sun’s light and converts via an inverter to useable DC electricity. The panels or solar array should be positioned where it will receive the most sunshine during the day; angle, direction and shade are the aspects to consider. To work best, solar panels should face south, at angles between 15 to 40 degrees.  

The solar power electricity then gets stored in a battery which is joined to an inverter where it is converted to DC electricity which is typically used to power a home. The electric meter installed on the system shows how much solar power the house is using per month in comparison to normal electricity and this amount is deducted from your utility bill.  

In some areas of the world solar photovoltaics (solar cells) are commonly used to heat people’s homes and prove to be very competitive with other types of power generating systems. The US is currently making progress in creating public awareness of solar power energy due to the introduction of programs and aggressive tax incentives that encourage home owners to adopt it. If you are in the process of building your own home at the moment you might want to consider a solar home powered home as a practical and energy efficient method of generating energy. 

The major benefit to installing a solar power system is the simplicity in which it can be operated, also maintenance costs are low, they can last for decades, and there are no issues with pollution or noise. With the costs of utility bills shooting up each year, solar power as a renewable source of energy is looking a smart alternative as a source of power for a home. 

Although the initial layout for solar power is quite high, the main benefit is that your electricity costs will be reduced and the difference will be seen in your bills each month. Overall, it can take around 12 years (some times much less) to offset the costs of installing a residential solar power system.  

As more and more people are becoming conscious of conserving energy and saving money in the long term, it is hoped that by 2020 the majority of the USA will have solar power in their homes and energy consumption will be reduced by up to 70%.

At Solar Power Homes USA we can provide you with valuable information on home solar applications, services such as solar water heating, and products for home or residential use. Go here to research and find a residential solar power contractor in your state.

About Author: Ray Haiber is a renewable energy advocate and founder of SolarpowerhomesUSA with info at http://www.solarpowerhomesusa.com