How Is Solar Energy Used in Homes?

Solar energy has been used for a number of decades but was not considered very efficient during its infant stages. However, technological advances have made today's solar energy comparable to traditional power sources. In fact, some homes are able to make money using solar energy through special equipment.

Solar photovoltaic panels are the large sets of panels typically seen on top of homes. They collect the sun's radiation for energy conversion. As expected, solar panels are angled to where they get the most sun exposure. Although most panels can use between 35 and 40 percent of what they collect, newer panels have reached almost 50 percent energy efficiency levels.

Solar energy can be stored for later use in the form of large batteries. Other methods involve the use of zeolites, a material that can absorb and release water. The water is used as a conduit to release and store heat, making it possible to store heat energy for long periods of time.

Solar energy systems need a way to transform their power into usable home energy. For houses that are still attached to the electric power grid, the inverter acts as a go-between. It changes the power from direct current to alternating current, allowing the power to flow through your home's wiring system.

Having hot water is also possible through solar energy. Hot water is one of the biggest energy drains in the home. But solar thermal arrays are able to directly heat the water via the sun. Thermal arrays collect the sun's heat and use it to warm up either water or anti-freeze in their piping systems. These pipes would run inside your water tank and act as a heat exchanger.

Many home solar energy users still use traditional power as a backup source of energy. These homeowners can actually sell their unused solar energy to the states of California. If the days are particularly sunny and they are using less energy than you are collecting, special solar meters can actually run backwards and deliver energy back into the grid. This reduces their monthly power bills and in some cases, gives a credit that can come in handy during a rainy season.