| There are many different uses solar panels for your | | | | depending on where you live. There are three kinds |
| home can provide. Many of us think of solar panels | | | | of solar water heating systems available. Evacuated |
| as sources of electrical energy. They are used in | | | | tube collectors cover about 44% of the water |
| many homes today, not only as a supplement for | | | | heating systems, 34% for glazed flat plate collectors, |
| electricity supplied by power grids, but also complete | | | | and there are unglazed collectors, mostly made from |
| home electrical uses. They have been in use for | | | | some kind of plastic, at 21%. These unglazed |
| many years, but it isn't until recently that more | | | | collectors are mainly used for heating pools and hot |
| people are seeking alternative power sources on a | | | | tubs. |
| regular basis. Sometimes they can be used as a sole | | | | There are many different applications for solar panels |
| energy source, like for people who live in warmer | | | | for your home. You can use solar power for heating |
| climates where the suns energy is plentiful. In other | | | | and air conditioning systems, passive thermal energy |
| areas, they can be used in combination with other | | | | to help heat your home, and many others. You can |
| alternatives, like wind turbines. | | | | find many different kinds of solar energy systems |
| Solar panels for your home have other applications as | | | | available, from complete panels and systems that all |
| well. Solar panels that operate on photovoltaic cells | | | | you have to do is hook them up, to DIY kits. These |
| power electricity, but there are many passive solar | | | | kits come in a variety of different styles, completed |
| applications. They can be used to circulate air around | | | | kits that you simply build yourself, to ones that |
| your home, and many passive solar applications | | | | include instructions, supply lists, and dealers available. |
| involve heating water for washing dishes, taking | | | | These are a bit more difficult, because you have to |
| showers, and cleaning clothes. Many commercial | | | | put the panels and voltaic cells together yourself, and |
| buildings, apartment complexes and even residential | | | | this not only takes more time, but you have to know |
| homes are using solar heating to help cut down on | | | | how to connect the wiring together right. |
| the cost of heating water. | | | | You can find many resources about solar panels for |
| So how does solar panels for the home heat up | | | | your home online. There are the DIY kits, tips on |
| water? The set up is basically the same, but instead | | | | where to use solar panels for maximum efficiency, |
| of using photovoltaic cells, they use a series of pipes | | | | and even professionals available that specialize in |
| that run through the panels. As the sun heats the | | | | creating full solar power grids. If you are interested in |
| pipes, so in turn does the water heat up. In warmer | | | | building solar panels yourself, it is a good idea to do |
| climates, solar water heaters can heat up to 70% of | | | | some researching first, and educate yourself about all |
| the water of your home up to 60degrees or more | | | | the different applications that solar can provide. |