Solar Power Home

Incorporating Solar Power for Home Use

The Solar Power Home Guide - Need to know information to successfully establish a home solar power system. From passive solar powered house options to installing a complete PV solar energy system.

Step by Step - Solar Power at Home

solar power home

This page offers guidelines that'll help you turn your residence into a solar powered house.

Whether you're going for the gusto and converting entirely to solar or you want to tie into the existing power grid these tips will get you going in the right direction.

There's way too much information to put it all on one page and besides, each of you requires different info depending on whether you intend to build a solar power home from scratch , add a solar energy system to an existing home., tie into the conventional power grid, completely remove yourself from the grid... you get the picture.

This page, summarizes the entire process while providing links to more detailed material.

Just click on the links that apply to your situation and you'll get only the information you need.

Step #1 - Solar Power Home

Conserve Energy
If you've looked at the cost of solar energy systems, then I don't have to tell you how important it is to cut every corner that you comfortably can before you size your solar energy system. (Sizing a system is determining how many panels you'll require to run a specific household)

Powering unnecessary, redundant and wasteful energy consumption would be ridiculous given the cost of each watt of solar electricity.

Trim every area possible until you've stuffed and filled and vented and reduced your way to an ultra lean energy machine.

Use the most energy efficient appliances on the market and it makes good sense to power some of your household appliances with natural gas. The dryer, stove top and oven for instance require huge amounts of electricity making them a poor bet for solar power.

When it's time to replace your household appliances buy the most energy efficient models available on the market. It'll pay dividends in the long term.

Our page on energy conservation tips and techniques will help.

The first, and most important phase of the transformation. You may notice your power bills reduced by half or more once this phase is complete.

Step #2 - Solar Power Home

Passive Solar
A well designed solar powered house makes use of as many free passive solar techniques as possible to reduce overall energy needs. Based on the principle of welcoming the sun into your dwelling during cold weather and keeping it out during hot weather, passive solar energy is free for the collecting and, when properly applied can eliminate the need for home heating and cooling power.This in turn reduces the cost of your solar energy system.

At least some passive solar concepts can be incorporated into almost every home, even if it's an existing residence.

Step #3- Solar Power Home

Is Wood Friendly?

Wood heat falls into the renewable energy category as long as trees are continuously replaced.
Studies have shown that the amount of pollution released in the burning of wood is more than offset by the positive impact the tree has had while it lived and exhaled oxygen.

Alternate Heating Methods

If you live in a very cold climate you'll almost certainly need a source of heat at times.

A super efficient electric heater can be a good addition in a grid tied home.

For off grid living, a wood, pellet or cob burning stove will warm your home when it's needed.

Try a solar powered heater for small spaces that only need heat in the day.

Step #4 - Solar Power Home

Thermal Solar

Water heating needs can all be addressed with a solar power water heater which uses low technology, thermal collectors to heat water. A solar swimming pool pump and heater can extend your swimming season and save you thousands of water heating dollars.

One of the most efficient uses of solar energy, water heating devices, are inexpensive to install and pay for themselves in 1 to 5 years.

Step #5 - Solar Power Home

Off Grid or Grid Tied?

Decide whether you'll install a grid tied solar energy system, that remains connected to the conventional power grid, or an (off grid) independent residential solar power system that functions entirely independently of conventional energy.

The type of system you choose will determine the size of your array, whether you'll need a battery bank and how much area your system will need.

A Grid Tied Home Solar System gives you more flexibility. If you remain tied to the grid, your system will not have to meet the entire daily energy requirements of your home. If you tie into the grid you can customize your solar system to almost any size, because the grid power will still flow into your house when you need it. No calculating your energy use down to the last watt and worrying that you'll run out of juice at the worst possible moment.

An Off Grid Home Solar System gives you more independence. No power bills, no blackouts, no threat of energy supplies drying up or becoming inaccessible.. or so expensive that they might as well be.

Off Grid systems are more complicated to size (your installer may be able to help) correctly in order to have ample energy when demands are high and sunlight resources are low.

Combining other alternative power sources with a home solar power system can save you a lot of money while ensuring that you always have sufficient energy supplies.

Water turbines, wind generators and earth energy are low impact energy sources that can take up the task at times when your solar powered home system

Check out our pages on off grid living for more information.

Step #6 - Solar Power Home

Size the System

Size your solar energy system for the month that your home uses the most energy.

Take into consideration such things as (house orientation, adjacent structures, trees and landscape features, seasonal access changes to the sun, latitude and local weather patterns, all of which will have an effect on the amount of sun available for capture.

more sizing information.

Step #7 - Solar Power Home

Choose Installer

Installing solar power for home use is a job for the pros. Unless you have sufficient skills, establishing a home solar system is not a DIY project.

Interview your installer and check references before making a commitment.

Step #8 - Solar Power Home

Purchase Your Home Solar Power System

Between us and our buddy boats, almost every established solar company is represented but the ones we see most are, Siemens, Sunsei and Kyocera. We don't know a single person that is dissatisfied with their solar panels.

We have both Siemens and Kyocera panels and we'd buy either one again.

Any home can benefit from using solar energy in some form. Solar powered landscape lighting, pond pumps and garden fountains beautify your property without adding a penny to your power bill.