The long-term advantages of solar

Solar generated energy is becoming the norm throughout the world. In fact, there’s little choice since fossil fuels are expected to last for only another fifty years. Without solar and other renewable sources of power, there would be little hope for life on the planet. For some, this is an overstatement, but climate scientists believe global warming is dramatically worse than previously believed. This is one of the prime reasons solar energy is increasingly used worldwide.

The main reasons for solar’s popularity are obvious

Solar power, once installed is free and reliable because the sun shines every day and it also works (but less effectively) on cloudy days.
Solar is clean and renewable. Unlike other sources of energy, such as coal, oil, and gas, which are not-renewable and also severely impact the global climate.
Reduces or eliminates the costs you pay to your local utility company and increases your energy independence
Increase the value of your house. Many studies show that homes with solar power systems sell faster and at higher prices than their counterparts.
Can be financially beneficial – if you decide to buy a solar system, you will be eligible for rebates, government incentives, feed-in tariffs, tax credits, and more

Common applications for solar energy

The most frequent uses of solar power are related to the conversion of solar energy to electricity thanks to solar panels based on homes and businesses. Photovoltaics transform solar energy into direct current by using semiconductor materials that convert solar radiation into DC  current.
Grid-tied systems are cheaper and require less maintenance than off-grid systems. An obvious disadvantage is that grid-tied systems shut down in case of power outage. This can be avoided by buying a grid-tied system with a battery backup option.
Grid-tied systems are attractive because:
Significant saving from electricity bills
Security against power outages
Add value to any building
Protect the environment
Provide energy backup (for grid-tied systems with power backup)

Off-grid electric systems

Off-grid solar systems are not connected to the utility grid. They are preferred in areas where utility interconnection is too expensive for typical grids to serve. Off-grid systems are more expensive than grid-tied systems and are typically provided with battery storage.
In cases of high daily electrical consumption often a hybrid system is preferred since it’s not economically feasible to offset all the electricity to be generated by the solar system only.

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.