The decision’s made…you really want to reduce your reliance on your local power company. And you want to decrease your carbon emission footprint. So who do you increase your reliance on? The “Big Power Company” of course…the sun.

Wow…what a great idea (not that you didn’t know that already). Of course, you’ll want to be sure you live where you get enough sunshine that you’ll be able to pay for your materials over time and begin to save money. In some areas of the country, using solar energy simply isn’t feasible, so before you begin, a good place to visit is the U. S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) website to look at whether the area you live in is suitable for solar energy.

With the site determination behind you, you’re ready to start construction. What you’ll quickly determine is that building a solar energy panel really isn’t rocket science, and once you’ve got your materials paid for, your energy bill may well trend downward significantly.

A common misconception among consumers is the belief that solar installation is an “all or nothing” proposition. The fact is you can start with one panel, or just a few, and if you like it and it’s energy efficient, add on.

Pre-build solar energy panels are getting cheaper. But that doesn’t mean they’re cheap yet. In fact, far from it. Building your own panels, however, can be both fun and interesting. If you can do it yourself, and have a little extra time, or are maybe a little short of funds, you can also save a bundle of money.

I’ve discovered that there’s a lot more than one recipe for building solar energy panels. There are books, e-books, and tons of articles on the Internet on how to build solar energy panels. A little research can help you find what will work best for how your solar energy will be used, and what materials are most readily available to you.

With what research shows as the available technology of today, with the most available construction materials to build a photovoltaic (PV) panel, you can expect the following items to be the main ingredients in a basic recipe:

1. Solar cells

2. Shallow box built from plywood

3. Masonite pegboard or similar substrate

4. Glass or plexiglass to protect the cells

5. Screws and hardware

6. Wire

7. Silicone Caulk

8. Diode

9. Jones plug

The solar cells are connected (soldered together in a series) with a blocking diode mounted inside the panel, and a polarized two-pin jones plug is connected at the end of the wires. The solar cells must be connected and protected within the box, usually with a piece of glass, which is sealed with silicone caulk to prevent possible water damage. Get everything put together, properly sealed, then connect your panel to a battery bank/inverter and you’ve got an “off-grid” power system.

The details of how one solar panel was built using this recipe, showing the panel size, solar cell size, and providing photographs of construction as well as where he obtained his materials can be found at http://www.mdpub.com/solarpanel/index.html.

One of the things this article points out is that although there are many types of solar cells, cells of the same type all produce the same voltage. So if you use larger solar cells, you’ll get more power, but the panel will weigh more.

Keeping the panels manageable for one person to handle is a major element if you’re doing this project on your own. Since most DIY’s (do-it-yourselfers) install as well as build, unless you’re making a permanent installation and have plenty of extra help to put up, it will be a plus if you keep the panel small and light. If you decide the process is worthwhile, both from a cost-savings point of view as well as an energy-saving perspective, you can always add multiple solar panels with a larger battery bank and more inverts to expand your system.

As previously mentioned, solar cells are currently relatively expensive. However, new technology in the construction of solar energy panels is rapidly advancing. Some fascinating innovations that are coming to the forefront can be found at http://www.treehugger.com. A few of them are: CIGS (copper indium gallium diselinide) thin film solar cells, being developed by the U. S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory that will be cheaper than the current silicon-based cells. Another new innovation is the Cool Earth Inflatable Balloon, which is designed to concentrate more direct sunlight onto smaller solar panels. And another very clever innovation is solar panel constructed from ‘hairy’ thin nanowires.

Your research will undoubtedly lead you to numerous options for solar panel construction. It’s a project with a pay-off, however, regardless of what you use. Not only will you decrease your reliance on fossil fuels, a new renewable energy, and thereby reduce your carbon footprint on the environment, you’ll be doing it yourself…the most cost-effective way.

Looking to find out all you can about solar energy panels then visit www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com to find the best advice on home solar power for you.

1. Q. I live in an area where we get a lot of cloudy days. Is solar power for my home really worthwhile exploring?

A. Yes. You may end up needing more photovoltaic panels, or you might need to configure them differently, but there are very few places in the world where solar energy can’t be captured and either used to supplement existing power needs, or totally supplant it.

2. Q. Can I afford solar power?

A. Solar power is still a little higher than fossil fuel (oil, gas, coal) in most places, but when you factor in the incentives…federal and state tax credits, rebates, net metering, escalating power bills for other sources, the question soon will be “How can I not afford solar?”

3. Q. What’s the difference between a solar power system and a solar hot water system?

A. A solar power system consists of an array of photovoltaic cells, or some other solar collection method like parabolic troughs, that gathers the sun’s energy, then converts it into electricity that you use and store for heating, cooling, lights and appliances…like your own little mini power plant. A solar hot water system is basically just a radiant hot water storage tank that uses the sun to heat the water you use in your home.

4. Q. What maintenance do solar power systems require?

A. No. Solar systems require little or no maintenance other than keeping your panels or other collection devices free of debris, heavy snow or leaves.

5. Q. Can I finance a solar power system?

A. Financing is very available. Like any other home improvement project, solar system installation will generally qualify for a home equity loan if your credit is good.

6. Q. Do I need to consult a solar professional before I start?

A. This really depends on your expertise and comfort level. Solar professionals can help you avoid the pitfalls of a beginner, and usually know who the best installers are in the area, both of which could save you big bucks. But if you don’t mind doing the research, and are comfortable with your own knowledge base, you can also do it on your own.

7. Q. Should I get multiple bids?

A. Unless you have only one installer in your area, and have no other options, definitely get multiple bids. Not only will you get the most competitive bid that way, you may also get some different ideas to work with. Whoever you choose in the end, though, make sure they’re reputable, and that you agree on all of the components as well as how and when they will be installed…before work starts. That way, when it’s done, you’ll be getting exactly what you paid for…in the time frame you agreed upon.

8. Q. Will I need a lot of room for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system?

A. This depends on how much power you need. For a 1000 watt system, you’ll need between 100-200 square feet of area (about the size of an average bedroom).

9. Q. What is net metering?

A. Net metering is an energy calculation from your local utility. When you have an on-the-grid system, the local utility company will install an additional…or different…meter. That meter will turn backwards when you are producing more energy from your own system than you’re using. The backwards movement means your electricity is flowing into the utility company’s power grid and will be used by others. This or a different meter will also track any electricity you pull for your use from their power grid. You get credit on your power bill for any excess energy you produce and send into their power grid.

10. Q. Am I really going to be making a difference in global warming if I move to a solar power system?

A. Yes. Every single person who doesn’t burn coal, gas or oil to provide home power makes a difference. The average American produces 53,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year through energy use. Everything any of us does to reduce that number reduces our carbon footprint. In addition, you’ll be setting an example for your neighbor or someone from the next block over who walks by and sees what you’re doing. It really is true…one person can make a difference.

Learn more about home solar power. Stop by Timothy Peters’s site where you can find about other solar energy topics: www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com

When you look at the outside of a solar powered flashlight, you won’t see a lot of difference between it and a regular flashlight. There’s a simple switch to turn it off and on. And on one end of the flashlight, there’s a glass-cover over a lamp, and when you turn the flashlight on, it puts out enough light to let you see in the dark, or into a darkened area.

Using sunlight energy, a solar powered flashlight converts that energy into electrical power in a solar photovoltaic (PV) cell or panel that sits on the outside cover of the flashlight. The solar generated power is stored in a battery. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamp is generally used in a solar powered flashlight instead of an incandescent light bulb, because LED’s last longer, and take less electrical current to operate. LED’s, on average last for about 10,000 hours, compared to an incandescent light that has lasts about 1,000 hours.

Solar charged batteries, like the LED’s are much more effective than their conventional counterparts, the nickel lithium or cadmium batteries one usually finds in flashlights. A solar charged battery will last about two years, or 2500 hours, while the single use nickel, lithium, or cadmium batteries are really good for about 15 hours of regular use.

To maximize the usage of your solar charged batteries, you should leave the flashlight on for 15+ hours at least once a month to fully expend the charge. Rechargeable batteries have a memory effect. Therefore if you continually use the flashlight without ever fully discharging it, it will eventually only recharge to a lower (memory) level, and never return to 100 percent of its available power.

For best results, keep your solar powered flashlight on a window sill when it is not in use, where the solar panel is exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight. If you’re not using it regularly, be particularly mindful to turn it on…and leave it on…as described above, at least once a month.

You can find solar powered flashlights in most hardware stores today. They’re great for camping and emergency use. Every vehicle and every home should have one. If you wonder why…think about those times that you’ve needed a flashlight in a hurry only to find that the batteries were dead, and you had no spares…or didn’t know where they were!

Now, you can find some extremely clever solar flashlight designs. Additions like flashers, cell phone chargers, and sirens, even, as well as just the basic solar flashlight. Plus, you’ll also find a number of cool solar flashlight key chains on the market today. As for price, it really varies. Like most items, you’ll pay for the uniqueness of the style, the additional functions, and the outside case.

And if you’re into “spreading the light” from a solar powered flashlight, check out bogolight.com. The name for this website came from “Buy One, Give One.” The company that operates the BoGoLight Program, called SunNight Solar, is a limited liability company founded by Mark Bent in 2006. Mark served in the American Diplomatic Corp in various developing countries, and saw the need for light in many places. So he set about finding a way to provide. Purchasing one solar flashlight at BoGoLight, or one of its affiliates, like InHabitat, sends another identical solar flashlight donation to a non-profit organization set up to collect and ship the flashlights throughout the world to areas where they are needed.

Shining a little light, in a very solar way, is a unique and wonderful method to help others who sit in the dark at night be able to see…even after the sun’s gone down.

Want to find out more about solar power lights, then visit Timothy Peters’s site at: www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com

Green energy is a huge source of power. It gets down to Earth under the form of solar radiations, which can be captured and transformed into other energy forms: thermal energy, mechanical energy or electric energy. This basically makes solar power usable in anything where energy is required. Humans only thought of using solar power to obtain energy during the 20th century. Nowadays, it is met in many environments and utilized in many more domains. Regardless of the numerous possibilities, solar energy is still used in only two major ways:

- Thermal energy production for heating water, heating homes and so on.

- Producing electric power through the help of the photo-volt cell. This is the child of a long research and evolution process, from powering pocket calculators to solar plants, which can assure the power needed for endless residential areas. Solar energy use is not limited to only these two categories, and the best way to prove it are the many every day devices we see that are powered solely by sun light.

Humans decided to choose solar power because it is available in enormous quantities and it is an inequitable source of energy, and is also it also called green energy, because it’s ecological. Since the process of transforming sun power into usable power does not pollute in any way, it’s a good idea to start capturing it more and more, because people should be aware of the planet’s slowly degrading process.

Because of the numerous movies and documentaries that have been advertised recently, more and more people start understanding just how “ill” earth is. The percent of people who use solar panels has raised a lot since 2005, but it’s still insignificant when calculating percents. Never mind the low percent, the raise registered is the one that should be considered. Experts appreciate that somewhere in the future, when the necessary technology can be developed, the solar energy will eventually become the only power source for out planet.

For some it is not easy to get the money for solar energy investing. Some people make bank lawns, others use tax lien investment methods to get those extra money.

Nowadays, green energy is not very popular because of many factors. The main factor that makes the solar panels technology not very accessible to ordinary people are the purchasing costs. This is why the initial investment in a solar power system for a house is big, even if the amortization of the price is produced over time, because the systems are usually feeble and can function 10 to 30 years without lots of maintenance costs.

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What can solar power be used for? Solar power is a huge energy source than can provide us with free and endless energy of all types. But it is mainly used in producing electric energy with the help of solar panels.

How much does it cost? Solar power is free. But the systems that capture it do cost. It’s not always easy to find money for this investment, but you can get creative and use domain for profit strategies to get extra income.

How much do solar systems last ? The first type of solar panels, the ones that produce heating energy, can be used without any problems for more than 20 years. Solar panels that transform sun rays into electricity can be used for more than a quarter of a century.

How long before I recover my investment? The amortization of the initial investment in a solar system is hard to calculate in general because it depends on many variables. Depending on your geographical position, on the mirroring technique, of components, utilization, and additional costs, it can last from 3 to 10 years. What happens if the sky isn’t clear or during the winter? New solar panels used to produce electricity function regardless of the sun visibility. Sun light, that’s visible to human eyes, it not the only radiation source and solar panels are more sensitive than we are. As expected, solar panels are influenced by all these exterior factor, but they function regardless of them. So, if you want this type of system to be financially logical, the house where it’s installed must be located in a favorable area where solar radiation is strong, the medium yearly temperature is high and the number or sunny days is clearly bigger than the number of cloudy days.

Do solar systems assume independence from electric power providers? If you live in the ideal regions of Earth, you can, in ideal conditions. You can keep the electric supply, and it will get used when needed, at times in which the solar panels can not cover the necessary electricity for your home. It doesn’t mean that you will end up using the backup system too often, but it has to be present there just in case, and also because solar systems that can offer exceptional independence are far too expensive for the average person.

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One alternative way of saving some cash on your electricity bill is via installing small solar panels or building solar panel for your home. This device has been utilized during the past however because people are so into high technology devices and chosen to allow the power company take care of supplying them with electricity so some just didn’t appreciate these devices.

But because electricity is becoming more expensive than it was before people are seriously searching for some ways on how they can save some money on their electric bills. Some do the traditional monitoring of their electricity such as switching off the lights when you’re not utilizing it or unplugging their electrical gadgets if it is not needed. However there are also those some which turns to solar power systems.

This particular system helps you save energy by transforming the light energy that the sun emits in to an electrical energy that can be used in people homes to power up the electric gadgets they have.

In addition to that solar energy panels are eco-friendly which means it doesn’t contribute in harming the earth. There are lots of types and kinds of solar energy, they vary in size but they have the same functions they get their energy from the sun. Solar power systems are affordable but if you wish to get a less expensive one you can build one your self.

Here are some tips and advices concerning small solar power panels.

* In the event that you cannot afford to purchase a larger solar panel you could settle with the little one. Although the small panel might have small limit of its power when compared to bigger types which could store more electric energy when it’s charge. the little solar panel may also be of help in assisting you cut some of your electricity bills.

* When you have solar panels you need to know the limit of your panel and just how many watts of energy they are able to provide so that you could calculate the number of homes it’ll last. By knowing this you’d also know how many electric gadgets it could manage to power up.

* If decided to purchase small panels the first thing that you must make sure if it’s long lasting and if it has a good quality. For if you want your solar energy panel to last you should select the one with quality as well as durability.

* You should also see if the solar panel can meet the demand of your family when the demand of your family in the evening required much more electrical power then it should be better if you get the larger solar power panels than the scaled-down one.

* You should also know how to handle your solar energy panel with care, for like every other device if it is not properly handled it might be damaged.

Please remember unlike power companies that supply us with limitless electricity solar power panels electric energy supply are limited and that it needs the sun to recharge it. So with no sun to recharge it if you use up all its energy it would be useless until the sun can charge its cells again.

Want to find out more about solar panel, then visit Nathan Henry’s site on how to choose the best solar panels for home for your needs.

One of the primary deterrents to solar energy installation is its initial expense. Right now, for the average American home, it’s still more expensive to buy the equipment for a solar home energy system, than a traditional fossil fuel home energy system. Here are a few facts to consider, however, when looking at the “bigger picture” of solar energy installation:

1. Using solar panels to capture and use the sun’s energy will improve your home value.

2. In about half of its lifetime, a solar home energy system will have paid for itself (lifetime of 25-30 years on average).

3. A solar energy system is clean and non-polluting. It’s also maintenance-free or low maintenance, because it has no moving parts to break or replace.

4. If you generate more power than you need, you may be able to sell your excess energy to your local electric company.

5. There are government sponsored rebates and incentives that you may qualify for.

There’s been a remarkable trend in construction toward using as many renewable resources, including solar energy, as possible, according to the latest home building indicators. This trend will not only result in increasing the value for “green” homes, it will also result in price decreases for solar energy and other environmentally-friendly construction supplies.

If you’re convinced that solar energy is the way to go when building or remodeling your home, but just not sure if you can afford it…or are willing to pay the initial costs, consider doing the installation yourself. Getting solar panels installed by a contractor can be very expensive…look for bids that are easily 10 times what it would cost you to do it yourself. Solar energy panel construction isn’t terribly difficult…no rocket science involved. It’s basically a specially constructed solar panel (wooden box, photovoltaic [PV] cells, wire, soldering iron, connections, tempered or plexiglass and silicone sealant) to capture the sunlight’s energy on the PV cells that activate electrons. As the electrons move and are directed, they create the electrical chain that you then put through a charge controller in the form of a DC charge. You then capture the charge in either a deep cycle storage battery, or run it through an inverter to transform it into 110 volt AC current. You can find many DIY models on the Internet…some that offer free tips and tricks with instruction, and some that charge a small amount. One site that provides clear instruction at a very reasonable cost is Earth4Energy.

Taking advantage of passive solar energy is a great way to cut your energy costs. Examine closely the best ways to take advantage of the sun’s energy to direct the sunlight to your home’s windows, then walls and floors, to allow heat distribution in the winter, and summertime rejection. No electrical or mechanical devices or solar panels are necessary in passive solar energy, although there are five critical elements for success in passive solar design. Those five critical elements are 1) area…glass generally, to allow sunlight into your building; 2) absorber…hard, dark surface for the sunlight to hit and be absorbed as heat; 3) thermal mass…the material below or behind the absorber; 4) distribution plan or system…how the solar heat gets circulated; and 5) control…awnings, blinds, differential thermostats and roof overhangs.

You can save money using solar energy, passive or active, or a combination of both. Your immediate, up-front cost may be greater… although you can reduce that cost significantly by doing your own installation…but when you consider the cost of energy usage over time (particularly with other energy costs constantly rising), solar energy will save you money on your utility bills while saving the planet from escalating environmental damage.

States CEO and President Rhone Resch, Solar Energy Industries Association, on Earth Day 2010: “Today we need to take action to accelerate the deployment of solar. If you are a homeowner or business owner, consider putting solar on your property or buying clean energy through your utility. And if you are a policymaker, consider incentives, like extending the federal Treasury Grant Program, that are working to stimulate more investment in solar.”

Large or small, whatever thing each of us might do that encourages and supports solar energy development, will benefit generations to come.

Looking to find out all you can about solar power costs, then visit www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com to find the best advice on home solar power for you.

Turning this question around to ask the true question, “How could solar energy not help the world”" might better impart solar energy’s true significance.

Were you aware that one single kerosene lamp, commonly the only piece of lighting equipment in many rural areas and developing countries will emit about one ton of carbon emissions over a seven-year period? I know, that doesn’t sound terrible…until you think about the fact that there are approximately 2.5 billion people on the planet who don’t have access to any kind of power other than kerosene, other fossil fuels, or animal dung for heat and light. Now we’re talking about a pretty big impact, right?

In the United States, the average citizen produces 27 tons (54,000 pounds) of CO2/equivalent in a year by using fossil fuels according to statistics from Nature Conservancy. I think that’s considered a very large environmental impact.

Using solar energy, the world can not only survive, but thrive, by providing access to basic needs and reducing environmental pollution. Not only is solar energy feasible for light, heat, and water, it’s vital for global survival and growth.

Possessing excellent solar energy potential, many third world countries are simply unaware of its existence as a way to provide electrical power. Or, they consider it too expensive, or too hard to get. With their lack of conventional power, they are also the biggest potential market for solar and other renewable energy systems.

Considering the sun provides an unlimited supply of renewable clean energy, anything and everything we can do to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase our reliance on solar energy will help the world. Every watt of power generated from the sun is pollution-free, while every watt of power generated from fossil fuel adds to the world’s pollution.

Once you’ve paid for the initial cost of components and installation, using solar energy is free. Solar energy is silent, which means a reduction in noise pollution as well and there’s no maintenance.

The average home currently emits about 18 tons of greenhouse gas into the environment in a year with fossil fuel…no such pollution exists with solar energy.

A big advantage on the global scale is the creation of self-sufficient home solar energy in many rural areas where conventional (normal) power distribution just isn’t viable economically.

There is an organization called SELF, which stands for Solar Energy Light Fund, that has been prominent in bringing solar energy to the developing world. This organization describes itself as a “cutting edge, independent, not-for-profit organization that designs and implements sustainable energy solutions for enhancements in health, education, agriculture and economic growth in the developing world.”

Partnering with government and non-governmental organizations in more than 15 developing countries, SELF has helped bring solar electrification to many villages and homes that had no existing resources. Their partnership projects have helped to initiate income-generating work in poverty-stricken areas, and to bring solar electrical systems to health clinics, schools, and to provide irrigation and water systems.

Today’s solar panels are predicted to have an average life of about 25 years, with a 10-year payback period. The costs are expected to decrease significantly with thin film technologies, which will also increase innovative use and flexibility of solar panels. This is particularly true for thin film batteries, where the market is exploding.

Solar energy is gaining ground worldwide. The technology works. More investment is being made in solar energy, and as it is more widely adopted, the economies of scale, together with more funding to create new technological efficiencies, will make solar energy more and more affordable. There is no question more and more individuals, companies and countries will move to solar energy as a power source for all their energy needs as fossil fuel prices continue to escalate.

Solar energy is here to stay…it works. And let’s be clear, the faster we start using solar energy to replace fossil fuels as our primary energy source, the better off our world will be.

Timothy Peters is a solar energy enthusiast and author. To find out more about solar power benefits, check out his site at: www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com/

Here it comes again…the beautiful, awesome sunshine. When you walk outside and feel its warmth, are you thinking, “How could I bring this in with me and put it to work as solar energy without having to spend so much money?” A lot of people who’ve had that thought have hit upon the something that’s too often overlooked…that’s going solar one step at a time.

A solar hot water heater is one of the best places you can start, since, if you’re like most households, you can save four to five thousand kilowatts of power a year…one this one thing alone. It will give you a good idea of what the costs and benefits of solar energy are, and by starting on just one project, the rest of the system won’t seem so overwhelming.

You don’t have to break the bank with a solar hot water heater. You can look at a couple of different options…building your own hot water heater and installing it yourself…or having it done professionally.

There are a number of options here, so before you go buy, or start building a solar hot water heater, decide where you want to put it. You could have a batch hot water heater that sits by the side of the house to be pumped in. At http://www.byexample.com, you can find instructions (with photographs) on how to build your own batch hot water collector. You could also have your hot water heater with a solar photovoltaic (PV) cell panel on your roof. That’s dependent, of course, on your own aesthetic preferences…or perhaps the neighborhood covenants. Another option is to put your collector on the rooftop, and have your hot water heater in the attic. At ByExample, you can find a good illustration of how everything for this system is connected and how it works.

Any way you decide to go, though, you can build your own solar power system quite economically. If you’re interested in starting with one solar panel, built in your garage or shop in your spare time, you’ll need the following equipment: solar cells, a shallow box built of plywood or other material, masonite pegboard or similar substrate, plexiglass or glass to cover the box and protect the cells, screws and hardware to hold the box together, wire to connect the solar cells together, a diode, a jones plug and silicone caulk to seal your box tightly.

The solar cells are connected (soldered together in a series) with a blocking diode mounted inside the panel, and a polarized two-pin jones plug is connected at the end of the wires. The solar cells must be connected and protected within the box, which is sealed with silicone caulk to prevent possible water damage. Get everything put together, properly sealed, then connect your panel to a battery bank/inverter and you’ve got the beginning of a solar energy system.

For a good detailed description of exactly what’s required to construct a solar energy panel like the one just described, visit http://www.mdpub.com. There’s some good detail on not only how to build the panel, but where you can find all the parts you’ll need.

Check out your local bookstore, or go online for books on solar projects. With a little help from Google or the other search engines, you can find many ideas on how to build solar hot water heaters, solar panels and other projects.

If you start on one project, like a solar water heater, and find out you really like it…and can afford the small investment of dollars with a little larger investment of time spent putting everything together…keep going.

Maybe you’re considering a total “off the grid” system. If so, look at how you can design a system to support running your whole house, and start moving slowly in that direction one piece at a time. To help you determine what you’ll need to run an off-the-grid system, check out http://www.oksolar.com. They have great information and formulas to help you look at your current energy needs, and then what you would need for battery/inverter wattage to go to an off the grid system. Since they also carry premade solar panels, if you’ve already made one of your own, you can do some price comparisons, (don’t forget to include some price element for your time), to see which option actually ends up being the most cost effective.

At http://www.byexample.com/homestead/energy/current_system, you can find an excellent example of how someone started small and then expanded their solar energy system. The author describes in good detail how they started their project with just several 12V PV panels of different wattages, and have continued to upgrade, with a plan to move soon to a 24 volt system.

In addition, there’s some great information on where they found used parts to build their system, and used scrap and other available resources for their construction. It’s a good source of information to show even the most budget-conscious person how it is actually possible to move to electrical “off the grid” living.

Learn more about home solar power by stopping by Timothy Peters’s site where you can check out his ebook “Home Solar Power Explained, where can find out how to benefit from home solar power.

Until approximately a hundred years ago in the West, people only had recourse to renewable energy for heat and light for their homes. They burnt wood and sometimes coal or peat (OK, fossil fuels) and got up when the sun came up and went to bed with the sun too. In, fact a large part of the world’s population still lives like that.

Things altered with mechanized industry and night shifts. Electricity providers sold the populace on being able to do more instead of just sleeping when it became dark, and the Western population got hooked on buying huge amounts of energy, mostly electricity and engine fuel, which was usually made from from oil and coal.

This idea soon travelled around the world and with rising prosperity came emulation and other countries wanted the same. Now we are in the sad situation where we have to confess that we rode the fossil fuel gravy train to its last stop without thinking about what we would use when fossil fuels ran out.

This is where the typical citizen comes in. You have to think about how you want to draw energy in the future. Do you want to be powered by keeping sucking unrenewable resources out of the Earth, or do you want to have as little to do with it as you can? Would you prefer to have everything you have now, but know that the resources that are powering your lifestyle are renewable?

If, like millions of others around the world, you would rather say ‘No!’ to traditional power production methods, then you have to take a stand. But not only in words, you really have to do some something about it physically.

This will mean investing a lot of money up front, which might not be a problem for you or you may even think that taking a stand is worth looking for a bank loan. These are admirable sentiments, but I would like to propose that there is another way to self-sufficiency.

You could make your own!

Why not? The technology has been around for decades and is pretty straightforward. Most moderately capable teenagers can assemble a bank of photovoltaic cells into a solar panel and then plug that into your home’s electrical system. And if a teenager can manage it, so can you. All you (and the teenager) will need is a solar panel kit and a schematical diagram. A plan in other words.

A solar panel kit can be bought locally from a DIY shop or from the Internet. A typical solar panel will take a few hours to put together and will produce 100 watts of electrical energy. The electricity produced from these panels is then passed through an inverter that changes the current from DC to AC, making it utilizable by household appliances and the utility grid.

Do yourself and the planet a good turn, get off the grid and start saving money and the planet’s resources, you will be surprised how easy it is once you get going. And do not forget, you can do it in stages of, say, one 100 watt panel a month until you hit self-sufficiency. It is not a question of ‘All or Nothing’.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with a favourite subject, types of renewable energy. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.