Solar Lights
Solar systems are not luxury anymore, it’s a necessity of most of the house owners in the USA. People who installed solar panels can generate their own electricity so that they can save their expenses. But that doesn’t mean you install solar panels and get unlimited benefits. Your location can dramatically affect solar energy efficiency. You will notice some houses with solar panels can generate more power than others only because of location. However, solar panels absorb sunlight to receive photovoltaic cells and convert it into electric energy. So, the more sunlight your solar panels will get the more electricity they can produce for your house. That’s why the location is very important for solar panels to perform effectively. How does location play a role in solar energy efficiency? The place you put your solar panels makes a big difference in how much energy they can make. So, it’s important which states you live in and how the environment is. Usually, good locations means long days, maximum time of sun peak hour, and less cloudy and rainy days. If you live in an area which is close to the equator, your solar panels receive more direct sunlight throughout the year. The sun’s path across the sky and its angle relative to the Earth’s surface. This angle is the solar altitude angle which varies significantly with latitude. In the United States, southwestern locations like Arizona and New Mexico receive approximately 6-7 kWh/m² of solar energy per day. But the areas in the Pacific Northwest only receive 4-5 kWh/m². This difference happens only for geographical location and their environments. Climate and Weather Patterns Weather patterns and local climate conditions also significantly influence solar panel efficiency. In the United States, the weather and climate of all states are not the same. Some states […]
Winter is on the way and you are thinking about how to keep snow off your solar panels. Snow can be a big problem for every house owner who has solar panels. Although, during winter season days are pretty good for solar panels to produce electricity, heavy snowfall can block sunlight. As a result, solar panels can’t receive enough sunlight to generate electric energy. However, there are several methods that you can follow to manage snow during winter months. Why is it necessary to remove snow from solar panels? Most of the time snow naturally slides off from solar panels because solar panels are positioned in a certain angle. Still I will suggest it’s better to remove snow from solar panels after a few days during winter. Heavy snowfall can completely block the panels and reduce electricity production. Also, snow accumulation can create several problems that you can’t ignore. Impact on Energy Production Whenever it’s snowfall days I see a big difference in energy production of my solar panels. As we know, without sunlight solar panels are useless, and even a thin layer of snow can impact on their efficiency. If you don’t remove the snow for a couple of days it can turn the electric production to zero. Research from the National Energy Laboratory shows that snow coverage can reduce your annual energy production by up to 15%. Usually, winter days are shorter than other seasons. As usual, solar panels don’t get enough time to charge properly. Also, in winter we need extra electricity especially for heaters to keep our house warm. If solar panels can’t receive proper sunlight it will be challenging to meet the household energy demands. Potential Damage During heavy snowfall days, we are pretty familiar with snow-layered solar panels. Even the sun doesn’t appear for […]
Electricity expenses are the common concern for most house owners in the USA. That’s the reason people are now using solar power systems to minimize their electric bills. Once you install solar panels you will see a huge difference in your electric bill. Solar panels absorb sunlight and then convert it into heat or thermal energy. Usually, people use their roofs to install solar panels because the place is perfect for receiving direct sunlight. You can reduce your electric bill by using solar power instead of the main power grid. Although installing solar systems is expensive, it’s a lifetime investment. In this guide, we will explain how solar panels work with your electric bill. How Do Solar Panels Work On A House? Solar panels usually work in daylight, they can’t work without sun. When you install solar panels they absorb photovoltaic (PV) cells from sunlight and produce electric energy. That’s why you have to put the panels on the open place like roofs or outdoors. If you have south face roofs, place your panels there to get direct sunlight. First, solar panels produce Direct Current electricity (DC), then an inverter transforms this DC electricity into Alternative Current (AC) electricity. After this transformation, it is usable for your home. You can use this electricity from the power equipment. Also, you can store it in a battery for use later, especially at night or on rainy days. Once you install solar panels, you don’t have to use electricity from the main power grid until the stored electricity runs out. Besides, you can send back extra electricity to the main power grid and make some money. However, how much electricity your solar panels can produce will depend on some key factors. The main factor is your location and the peak hour of the […]