The Smartest Energy Trend You Are Ignoring

Last updated on June 4, 2024

Did you know that one hour of sunlight power is equivalent to a full year’s worth of energy for the planet?This natural phenomenon highlights the capacity and extent of the smartest energy trend you’re probably ignoring;

Solar energy…

Solar energy is energy generated by the sun, it’s renewable energy that can be harnessed and stored in batteries to be used for generating electricity when needed.

Its clean means of energy production make this energy measure one of the smartest energy trends in the world. Solar power production does not release any toxic fumes into the atmosphere, significantly reducing health risks.

The extent of benefits of solar power production has led to a spike in the procurement, installation and usage of solar energy on a global level.

Cost-effective energy solution

Unlike utility electricity using traditional fuel sources, solar energy is far more cost-effective.

Sunlight is a freely available and widely-accessible limitless natural resource that offers the potential to generate energy and electricity at almost no operational fees, paying only for the installation charges, making it a smart and cost effective solution.

Investing in solar is a wise investment and a far better option than using non-renewable sources like coal or fossil fuels.

These fossil-based resources are also harder to access, limited to certain locations and have a severe cost to remove from the earth, clean, store and operate, which leads to large price fluctuations and energy spikes. These price issues make solar energy a much more cost-effective solution and a big money saver in the long run.

Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable

More importantly, solar energy is a clean means of energy production, listed as the cleanest source of energy, as it does not burn any material, does not produce toxic fumes and does not release any toxic gases.

Fossil fuels are dangerous in the quantities and extent of their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the environment, worsening air pollution levels and posing major health and environmental hazards.

Solar energy on the other hand has no GHG emissions and is considered one of the healthiest forms of energy for both humans and the environment.

Zero Maintenance Cost

A common problem with grid power is the extensive electricity bill that builds up and adds monthly fees, charges and maintenance costs.

The only operational cost of solar energy involves periodic cleaning of the solar panels from dirt that might accumulate. Apart from this insignificant cost, solar energy does not incur any major maintenance costs or charges.

Traditional sources not only incur heavy periodic maintenance fees which usually involves hiring specialized teams, but also requires periodic purchases of fuel, gas or coal to operate the engines, in addition to high storage and handling costs.

Solar panels, on the other hand, simply need to be exposed to direct sunlight with no interference or maintenance fees.

One time investment

With the rising electricity costs and instability of global fuel supplies, who wouldn’t appreciate secure and free electricity running for many years?

Despite an initial investment for the system procurement and installation, the savings on electricity bills give a fast Return on Investment (ROI) all the while benefiting from decades of free natural energy and readily available free electricity.

Higher Property Value

Research shows that homes with solar panel installations are valued and sold at higher prices.

This is a very logical outcome, as home buyers would appreciate the fact that their new home relieves them from electricity bills, and would in turn be willing to pay more money for the household.

Therefore, even if a customer is planning on selling his/her property within a few years, it still makes perfect sense to install solar panels, benefit from their savings for some time, and finally be able sell the property at a higher value.

Tips To Set Up Your Solar System

To set-up a household solar system, it is recommended to contact professionals and request the service of solar experts.

Below are some tips to guide you through the home solar system setup.

Purchase the required components

Home solar systems consist mainly of the solar panels responsible for generating the flow of electricity required for the household.

Additionally, the system consists of other electronic components which store the electricity and make it useful for operation in the household. These components mainly consist of a charge controller, battery, and an inverter.

Calculate the loads

Before buying and installing the solar system, the loads must be assessed and calculated. This task might sound complicated, but it’s actually quite straightforward.

The calculation involves determining which appliances would be running and the number of hours each appliance is set to operate, in order to determine the total watt-hours required.

A helpful device that assists in determining the load required more accurately is an energy monitor.

Choose a good battery

Batteries are a key element for the solar system operation all throughout the day. As the energy comes directly from the sun, the period between sundown and sunrise offers a dead time for the solar panels as they won’t generate any electricity.

Additionally, during cloudy and bad weather, the capacity of solar panel production drops significantly.

A good battery is therefore essential to store excess energy generated during the day, to make use of when the system is not operational. Batteries for solar systems are fitted with power controllers to monitor the battery charging capacity and the overall health of the system.

Set up your inverter

Solar panels generate power from the sun energy, however, this energy flows as a direct current throughout the system. On the other hand, the household and many of its appliances require alternating current to operate properly.

This is where an inverter is required. The inverter’s job is to turn the direct current into an alternating current, ready for use within the house. There are several types of inverters, including square wave, modified sine wave and pure sine wave. Pure sine waves are recommended as they are the most efficient types.

Install, Fix and Connect

At this stage, it is advisable to hire a professional especially if one lacks knowledge in electricity and wiring. In any case, below are a few tips for installing and wiring the solar system:

Choose the most suitable location which gets unlimited sunlight
Fix the solar panels firmly in that spot.
Connect the wires to the junction box at the back of the solar panel.
Ensure that the black wire is connected to the negative terminal and the red one to the positive terminal.
Connect the solar panels to the batteries, in series and parallel connections.
Fix stable stands for the inverter and battery.
Connect the controller and charge controller.