How Is Solar Generated Electricity Produced & And Why It Is Such A Super Deal

Solar energy works exactly the same as the electricity you buy from the utility company. You turn on lights, plug in lamps and power appliances the same way you do right now. In fact, if you didn't see solar modules on the roof, you'd never notice any difference, except a lower power bill. While the science of converting daylight into electricity is intricate, the idea is pretty trouble free. Solar power is created by a group of solar modules called an array that's installed on your roof or in your yard. When sunlight falls on the solar modules, a DC electrical current is transformed instantly. The DC electricity is fed into an inverter that changes it to standard AC electricity, the identical kind your home already uses.You know that meter in your yard that monitors your energy usage? The dial spins forward as you use electricity. How long and how fast it spins ultimately determines your bill. But did you know that it can spin in either directions? Whenever your solar electric system produces more electricity than you use, the extra is channeled back to your utility's power grid, making your electric meter spin in reverse. It's called net metering, and it means you are earning credits on your bill. Net metering is available in almost every state including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.According to the American Solar Energy Society, the amount of sunshine hitting the earth in just one hour is sufficient to provide the world's energy needs for an entire year. With that much potential, why isn't everyone using solar electricity?There is more than one way to go solar. With so many options to choose from, you and your solar retailer can decide what's right for your home and your family. Much of the decision is dependent on the amount of roof or ground area you have to work with. South-facing roofs produce the best annual output; however, east-and west-facing roofs can also harvest good results. It is vital that your solar modules will not be shaded by trees, buildings or other obstacles for long periods of time during the day.The size of your system will depend on how much electricity your household uses on a regular basis. You can figure this out by looking at the last year of power usage in kilowatt hours (kWh) on your utility bills. The most cost effective use of your money is to balance your highest rates if you pay based on a tiered rate schedule. Instead of attempting to balance 100% of your usage, you may consider offsetting just a portion of your consumption.