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Solar energy is a viable energy option
Solar energy is a renewable resource that is both environmentally friendly and readily accessible. An immense amount of solar energy strikes the Earth's surface every day and the United States receives more energy in the form of sunlight in less than 40 minutes than from all the fossil fuels we burn every year*.
(*Source: Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation)
Federal and state funding and rebate programs have been expanding, and it is now easier than ever for homeowners and business to make selecting a renewable energy resource like solar a viable option. These programs bring solar power costs within financial reach for many small businesses.
In addition to the financial progress being made, there have been new and exciting advances made in solar technologies every year since the inception of the solar industry. The solar arrays of today are not the same ones we used in the 70s and 80s. There continues to be a great deal of research and development in solar technologies and this investment increases the viability of solar as an efficient and reliable source of energy.
This is great news for environmentally minded consumers like you who are looking for an alternative form of energy while saving on your monthly energy costs!
Solar technology in a nutshell
Solar technologies use the light of the sun to provide energy in the form of clean electricity for homes and businesses. Solar cells are made of semiconducting materials similar to the material used in computer chips. When sunlight strikes these cells, the light is converted to electricity in a process known as photovoltaics (PV).
Solar cells are combined into modules that are mounted in PV arrays. These PV arrays can be mounted at a fixed angle or they can be mounted on a tracking device that follows the sun. Some photovoltaic systems store electricity in batteries so that energy can be retrieved later. The systems are connected to a monitor that displays information about the system.
The electricity produced by the cells is direct current (DC). In order to be used by a home or business, an inverter needs to be installed near the solar array to convert the electricity to alternating current (AC). The solar electricity produced is measured in kilowatt-hours in the same way your power company measures your standard electric consumption.
Solar has many advantages:
- Solar cells use the energy from the sun to produce electricity so the "fuel" is free
- Solar power is produced domestically strengthening our economy, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and reducing our trade deficit
- Solar energy is the only form of renewable energy that can be installed at the point-of-use (POU) minimizing electricity distribution line losses and infrastructure costs
- It can be installed in urban areas and it is not restricted in the ways that wind and hydro-power systems are
- Solar energy is highly reliable and requires little maintenance so it's ideal in places that are hard to get to
- It can be used alone or in combination with other energy sources
- Generating electricity from solar energy reduces consumption of fossil fuels, which decreases pollution and greenhouse gas emission.
- Solar energy can be used in many ways - to provide heat, lighting, and electricity.
Solar energy is affordable
To determine the cost of a solar energy system a number of factors need to be considered such as:
- Whether you plan to install a stand-alone system or integrate the system into the building design
- The size of the system
- The particular system selected
- What federal and state solar rebates and incentives are available
- Solar systems can be connected to the electric utility allowing the system to send any surplus power produced back to the utility for a credit on future electric bills (this is called net metering)
Contact us to have a consultant analyze your last XX electric bills, building location and factor in the federal and state solar rebates and incentives available to illustrate how affordable a solar system can be for you. Let us show you how you can reduce, and possibly eliminate, your electric bill with renewable solar energy.
A Quick Guide to Solar Electricity
The Office of Solar Energy Technologies produced this pamphlet defining solar electricity and how Photovoltaics can provide electricity for residential and commercial buildings.
Photovoltaics and Commercial Buildings A Natural Match
This 4 page study from the Office of Solar Energy Technologies highlights strategic opportunities and locations for using photovoltaics to power businesses.
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