Residential Solar Power In Nevada Benefits
As we continue to see explosive growth of renewable energy sources, more and more communities are choosing to invest in solar power. This is particularly true for sunny states like the one where I’m from – Nevada!
Nevada currently has over 3,000 individual solar panels installed across hundreds of homes and businesses. Many more people have them as part of their monthly electricity bill because they pay per kWh instead of per kilowatt hour (kWh) of power.
Solar is becoming increasingly attractive due to three main benefits it offers. They go beyond saving the environment and giving back to nature. These benefits include savings in money, energy, and sustainability.
This article will talk about those benefits, why they matter, and some ways you can be a part of that change here in your community.
Better electricity grid reliability
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One of the main arguments against solar energy is that it could cause power outages, as solar panels produce power when sunlight hits them. The claim is that if enough people install solar then there won’t be anyone left to turn things on for normal operations so we’ll all go dark!
This argument seems logical at first, but it doesn’t take into account several factors. First, most countries don’t have anywhere close to enough solar energy to make a difference even if everyone installed max-outage capable systems.
Second, our current system isn’t very reliable anyway. We’ve got lots of natural disasters (lightning strikes, volcanoes erupting) and manmade ones (power plant accidents, terrorist actions). Add solar to the mix and everything becomes more unstable.
Third, many experts believe that our current infrastructure can’t handle too much solar power. When there's too much sun, transmission lines will burn up or stop working because they'll become overloaded.
Fourth, some studies show that the average person uses less than 100 kwh per month, which equals about 2 kilowatts per hour. That's not very significant amount of power production, especially since it takes around 1 - 3 kW hours to fully recharge a typical car battery.
So what are the benefits?
Residential solar power has tremendous benefits beyond reducing air pollution and saving money on utility bills.
Greater energy independence
As mentioned before, one of the biggest benefits of solar power is its ability to be cost-effective over time. This is particularly true for residential users. With most roofs able to accommodate solar panels, there are many ways to get free electricity.
Most importantly, it does not require much investment upfront. It is usually a monthly fee that varies depending on your utility company and what services you choose to use with your panel.
The sun will always be available, which removes another major factor in having to depend on other sources for energy. Because it is constantly producing energy, people can access it at any time.
Solar power is also environmentally friendly as it only uses sunlight to produce energy. There is no need to rely on fossil fuels or nuclear energy to function.
On top of all of this, photovoltaic (PV) systems actually reduce pollution by lowering emissions from coal plants needed to make energy. These facilities must meet ever-rising emission standards, making them work even more inefficiently.
Photocatalysts used in PV cells help prevent these harmful pollutants from escaping into the air.
Lower solar energy costs
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With all of these benefits, it is no wonder that more and more people are choosing to install their own residential solar power systems. Not only do you get free electricity, but your money can go towards investing in other parts of our daily lives.
Solar energy has consistently decreased in price over time. The cost of solar panels have dropped so much that now many individuals and companies are able to produce their own sustainable energy source.
Many large corporations use solar energy to help meet their sustainability commitments. For example, Google uses around 4 million watts of solar power every year! This is enough fuel to run about 100 average size homes for an entire year.
Google even created its very own company which produces and sells solar powered equipment. They called this new business line Project Sunroof and it features roofs with photovoltaic cells that work like glass roof tiles. These products look similar to normal asphalt shingles and can be installed onto most types of roofs.
These projects were designed to stay neutral while also helping promote sun safety. By incorporating solar into buildings, we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and save some cash at the same time.
Helps combat climate change
As we continue to see global temperatures rise, it is important to look at all possible solutions to help mitigate the effects of climate change. One solution that has seen a growing amount of attention in recent years is residential solar power.
Solar energy is a naturally occurring process that takes place when light rays are directed onto solid materials such as sand or glass. In sunlight-filled environments, this process can be used to create electricity which you can then use for your daily activities.
The sun’s radiance typically decreases over distance so most people cannot generate enough energy from the sun's rays alone to meet their energy needs throughout the day. That is where solar powered technology comes into play!
By using photovoltaic (PV) panels to gather indirect radiation and convert it into usable energy, individuals can now have access to almost limitless amounts of renewable, clean energy. It is one of the fastest growing industries around because it is efficient, cost effective, and environmentally friendly.
Helps the environment
One of the most important reasons to consider installing solar power is the positive effect it has on our planet. Creating less pollution from electricity production is an ongoing process, one that will continue to improve as more and more people install solar panels.
The best way to appreciate how much impact individual consumers create takes into account all of the energy consumed by a panel and not just its own use, but also the transportation needed to get here.
In fact, the sun can be one of the greatest polluters we have around us at times! Atomic bombs are a perfect example of this. Because they contain radioactive material, when these weapons are detonated, some of the atoms decay and become pure energy which then must be transported somewhere.
Solar technology was created to take advantage of this natural resource and convert it into something useful for humans.
Can be installed anywhere
One of the biggest benefits of solar is how it can be attached to any structure or roof. A rooftop system does not require space for installation, which makes it very practical.
Solar panels can be placed on flat or angled surfaces, and do not depend on direct sunlight for power. Because they are connected to a battery and electricity generator, they will always have energy stored or available to use.
This helps ensure that your home has constant supply of electricity, even if there isn’t enough sun to charge the batteries. The batteries can also be recharged at night, when the grid is still active. This way you don’t need to worry about running out of power during periods without sunshine.
Many people begin looking into installing solar after learning about the benefits it offers. But one important fact may be forgotten – why should we invest in this technology? What will it benefit us as individuals?
As consumers, our money should never be spent on products with limited uses. In addition to being an environmental choice, investing in renewable energy is a smart financial decision. Many states offer tax credits and other incentives to help offset the costs of solar.
Can provide backup power for your home
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One of the most significant benefits of solar is its ability to supply energy for use at any time. This feature is particularly helpful during times when the grid is down, or you are without electricity due to an outage.
Solar can function as both a source of direct current (DC) power and alternating current (AC) power. Electricity that comes from the sun is DC power, while electricity stored in batteries and other devices is AC power.
Most homes have appliances that require AC power, so it makes sense to store some amount of solar power for these uses. Some common examples include:
Power banks
Fans and air conditioners
Refrigerators and freezers
Clocks
These things all work by transferring heat away from one area and putting it somewhere else. A fan moves air, an aciton conditioner removes excess heat, a refrigerator compresses cooled gas, and clocks regulate temperature.
By storing energy in the form of cold tap water, refrigerant, nitrogen, or lithium ion cells, your equipment will use this stored energy whenever there is no electrical power available.
Can save money over time
With all of these benefits, it is no wonder that more and more people are choosing to install their own solar power system. Many individuals choose to do this by investing in residential solar panels.
Many large energy companies will offer discounted or even free solar panels to you if you are willing to keep your panel installed and connected to the grid for at least 5-10 years. This way, the company has proof that you will use the energy produced by the panel, and they get paid for it!
The sun’s energy cannot be stored so this helps ensure our electricity needs will be met. It is also environmentally friendly as we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
There are many different types of solar cells (the parts of the panel that produce direct current (DC) energy from the rays of the sun) such as crystalline silicon, thin film, or dye sensitized semiconductors. Each type works differently and produces varying amounts of energy, but all work to transform sunlight into electrical energy.
Solar technology continues to evolve – what was once considered expensive and difficult to implement now seems like a logical solution. Fortunately, due to competition, solar equipment is coming down in price rapidly! The best option for you depends on your budget, how easy you feel comfortable doing labor jobs around your home, and whether or not you have experience with electronics.