| Over the last fifty years the availability of solar | | | | monthly utility bill. |
| power components has increased dramatically. During | | | | Even though many opportunities exist for solar |
| the 1970s there were many people just beginning to | | | | power installations, and many for the DIY consumer, |
| explore their options in do it yourself solar power, but | | | | it is still necessary to understand the knowledge |
| the limited availability of photovoltaic panels and | | | | required for the installation and the limitations too. As |
| implements made it difficult. | | | | just stated above, even the most comprehensive |
| It was during this period of time that a common DIY | | | | and efficient do it yourself solar power installation |
| solar power installation would cover passive heating | | | | may not power a home or office on a twenty-four |
| needs, hot water supplies, and the occasional active | | | | hour a day basis. In fact, most systems are installed |
| heating system. Few components existed for the | | | | to simply reduce the number of hours a day that the |
| owner who wanted to power their business or home | | | | home is demanding traditional electrical supplies from |
| with some energy from the sun. | | | | a local utility company. |
| Today, however, that has all changed, and anyone | | | | Something of widespread interest is the fact that |
| can look to solar solutions for a wide variety of | | | | utility companies themselves are getting on the |
| domestic needs. For example, there are all kinds of | | | | proverbial “bandwagon” and encouraging all |
| do it yourself solar power options that will allow the | | | | kinds of efforts on the part of home and business |
| owner to generate electrical supplies in a building. This | | | | owners who want to tackle a DIY solar power |
| electricity can be of the supplementary type and can | | | | installation. This is due to government pressures to |
| be used to power household appliances and electronic | | | | create “greener” electrical supplies, and also |
| devices throughout the day, and even briefly into the | | | | to the fact that more and more average consumers |
| evening hours thanks to efficient banks of batteries | | | | are signing on for alternative energy supplies in order |
| that hold the “charge” received while the sun | | | | to reduce their carbon footprint. This is making it |
| was shining. A DIY solar power installation of this kind | | | | difficult for the utility providers to keep up the pace, |
| might even offer something known as “net | | | | and offering all kinds of incentives to those who |
| metering” that actually “sells” the | | | | install solar energy systems is among one of the best |
| electricity back to the utility company and rewards | | | | things to have occurred. |
| the owner with a reduced or entirely eliminated | | | | |