Save Energy and Money with Photovoltaic Solar Panels

Photovoltaic solar panels are panels that collect energy from the sun and convert the energy into electricity. Solar panels are generally placed on rooftops to have direct access to sunlight. The solar cells absorb the sun's energy during the day, and it is used to generate electricity for your home or business. Solar cells can also be tied into electric energy storage to be used to generate electricity for nighttime hours. The advantage of using solar is that it is a method of harnessing renewable energy that is clean and green. Generally speaking, there is initially a hefty investment to purchase and install solar panels, but solar panels can pay for themselves in a matter of months or years (depending on size, location, and use).

More and more people are interested in both saving money and saving the planet with eco-friendly solar panels. Burning oil releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, not to mention the impact on the environment from dredging and obtaining oil or the risks of devastating oil spills when oil is transported. The green advantages of solar panels are that solar energy, unlike oil, is a renewable resource. Solar energy is also non-polluting. The money saving advantages for individuals and businesses are that by using energy from the sun, it is easy to reduce the ongoing and increasingly more and more expensive costs of lighting, cooking, working, entertaining, heating and cooling. With solar panels you can greatly decrease or even eliminate monthly electric bills. That's what everyone already knows.

So, What's New in Solar Panels? A lot. If you looked into solar panels in the past and thought they were too expensive, too difficult to install or maintain and wouldn't be able to meet your needs consistently, then it is time to look at solar panels again. If you're considering solar panels for the first time as a way to go green, you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that lower prices, more user-friendly options, new technologies, and new laws, make this a great time to invest in solar panels. In the past, the high cost of solar panels was prohibitive to many. Silicon, which is used as a semi-conductor in solar panels, was in short supply in the past. As interest in solar energy and solar panels increased, (as well as the silicon used in the development of computer chips) the price of silicon rose over 500 percent. Things are leveling out today as silicon production has increased to over 25 thousand tons in 2007. It is predicted that by 2010, silicon manufacture will reach over 75 tons. Other new technologies are being developed that are cutting back the cost of solar panels and the cost of gathering the sun's energy. A new solar panel technology uses heliotubes as a conductor (like a dish) to track the sun and gather sunlight. These panels are larger but they are much less expensive than typical solar panels and positioning is more flexible. In addition to the lower costs and increased efficiency of solar panels, tax credits are also making solar panels more attractive and affordable.

Tax credits are generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar for dollar while a deduction only reduces the amount of income on which you are taxed. In addition to helpful federal tax credits, check out additional options in your state or city. Cities like Pittsburg and Denver are working hard to make it easier to go green using solar panels. It is possible to recoup part of the initial investment in solar panels through credits. (In the US, find out if your state offers tax rebates at disre.org

Solar panels can now be used not just to create green energy for buildings, but for Recreational Vehicles and boats as well. Solar panel kits are available that use light from the sun to charge your RV or boat batteries that can run lighting and other appliances. Unlike other sources, sunlight is likely to be available wherever you go. Check out non-polluting, renewable energy harnessing solar panels. Solar panels are now more user friendly and affordable than ever before. Eco-friendly solar panels are a great way for families and businesses to go green with clean, renewable solar energy.