Solar Heating & Power Generators

Ready to go green, provide your own energy and stop dealing with the electric and gas company? If you are, you should start thinking solar. When people think of solar they immediately associate the word panels. Yes, solar panels are the main source of solar anything, however solar generators are becoming increasingly popular. Ever heard of solar gain? Though the term might not have been popular in ancient times, the concept was. Learn about solar panels, solar generators and solar gain in the paragraphs below.

Solar Panels

There are 3 types of solar panels you can choose from: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline and Amorphous. All three work the same way, the difference is how they are produced, as well as how efficient they are. It’s important to know how much power you will need, how much space you have to work with and where they will be placed before you buy solar panels. The initial cost can be expensive, but over time that will pay for itself. Solar panels also require little to no maintenance and can last 25-40 years.

Solar Generators

Most solar generators are portable, but that’s not the best part. During emergency situations such as storms, these generators can be used indoors. Not only are they great for powering up small devices such as TV’s, alarm clocks, radios and cell phones, but they’re even capable of restoring power to your home appliances such as refrigerators, AC units, heating systems, and lights. The bigger the need during an emergency, the higher the price the generator will be, however there’s no need to spend money on fuel, or electrical kits, which over time will offset the initial cost.

Solar Gain

In ancient times, people didn’t have electricity, so power outages were never a problem. When it came to heating homes and structures, ancient people utilized the sun for warmth. Solar gain is much cheaper than solar panels and solar generators, and can be used for home or businesses. The trick is to convert the sunlight into heat and to circulate it throughout your home or business. Adding windows to the south side of your structure will enable you to capture as much sunlight as possible. Thermal storage materials such as masonry are placed below the windows to capture and store the heat after dark. To do this, you don’t need 7 solid days of sunshine per week, and this system even works during the winter.