10 Solar Tips (Part 1)

Since we all are aware of the power of the sun and the benefits we could get from it, let us go ahead and take a look at some solar tips I found over the Internet. I’ll give you the first five and head along to sharing with you the next five in my next post.

Read along and get to learn some really important solar tips.

1. Whatever solar power system or product you plan to utilize, always ensure that the solar panel faces in the direction of the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the panel must face south and at an angle to the horizontal equal to your latitude plus 15º.
2. Before meeting a consultant regarding the installation of a solar power system, always have on hand a list of all your electrical appliances together with their wattage and the hours of use. Any dealer worth his salt will need to know this information.
3. Before committing to a specific power system always check to find out exactly what the local, state and federal incentives are in your town. All this information can be found at the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy) database at http://www.dsireusa.org/.
4. Always have a local licensed installer put in your system (but make sure he has experience with Grid connected systems) – they know all the local regulations and will be able to give you valuable information regarding these rules.
5. Keep solar panels clean – even if it means getting up onto your roof once a month. A thin layer of dust or dirt on the glass cover will effectively block off some solar power and the system will operate below its maximum efficiency.

[Via Solar Energy]
[Image from The Encyclopedia Of Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living]