Solar Energy in the Home

Written By Live Naturally Admin
Dated: October 10, 2006

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Solar Energy in the Home The United Kingdom – with its unpredictable weather – may not be a country that is obviously associated with solar energy, but despite this
over 20,000 homes in the UK already enjoy solar power or photovoltaic tiles for heating hot water and according to surveys, around 25% of Londoners would be willing to install solar panels if they had the opportunity.

In 2004 Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ordered that all new homes built in Britain be designed so that they can benefit from solar power and the goal is to have all new homes at least partly solar powered by 2010. Surrey is the first county to agree to strict guidelines concerning solar power and new home construction, including the requirement that new housing developments are able to obtain at least 10% of their power from renewable sources.

Despite having used solar power since the 1970s, Britain still lags behind many other countries as far as solar powered homes are concerned. The United States, Japan and several European countries have all achieved success in making solar power accessible and affordable. Portugal has plans to construct a huge solar energy power station capable of powering 130,000 households.

There are two main types of solar power, both readily available. Solar powered panels (or solar assisted panels, as the industry prefers) are heated by the sun, and then retain the heat which is used to heat water. The hot water can then be “stored” and used later when you need it. The panels work when it is sunny outside – it doesn’t necessarily need to be hot.

Solar panels won’t eliminate your other water heater altogether – on average they will supply about 50% of your water needs depending on the size of your household. During the winter months you will probably need to heat water by other means.

Photovoltaic tiles (PV) use sunlight to actually generate electricity – the electricity is converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current. PV cells are made from semiconducting material and each module usually holds about 40 cells. You may be familiar with photovoltaic power already – many pocket calculators use the same power source.

During a typical summer’s day you can easily generate enough electricity to run your entire house. During the winter months you may not be able to generate enough electricity and any surplus you need will automatically be supplied by your regular electricity company.

Both solar and photovoltaic panels are relatively easy to install – virtually any home with a roof that faces south can be fitted with a solar powered water heating system. Ideally you need to have between two to five square yards of rooftop space that will receive direct sunlight during the day. For best results the space should be unobstructed by trees or taller buildings. The larger and flatter your roof space – the more effective your solar panels will be.

You don’t usually need planning permission to install solar or photovoltaic panels as they fall under the category of “permitted development rights” unless you live in a conservation area or listed building. You may need a building regulations inspection before you start any installation and you should make sure that solar power will be compatible with your existing water heating system.

Contrary to popular belief, solar panels are easy to clean and maintain – most users simply recommend cleaning the panels once a year with warm soapy water. Most solar products also come with a long warranty and routinely last for about thirty years.

Today’s solar panels also come in a wide range of colours and styles designed to complement your house. Panels don’t usually come in black because it isn’t efficient enough. Photovoltaic panels also come in a wide range of shapes, styles and colours, suitable for most homes.

The cost of the panels depends on how many square feet you are installing. It can cost between 2000 and 5000 pounds to set up the average family home for solar power; photovoltaic systems tend to be more expensive, ranging in price from 4000 pounds to 9000 pounds. Costs have fallen over the last few years as the manufacturing process improves and a grant from the government will typically cover about half the cost of the installation.

Water heating bills are reduced by about 50%, depending on the efficiency of your system. At this rate, it may take many years to recoup the costs of installing your solar panels – although as power costs seem certain to rise, solar power is increasingly seen as a better investment.

Many estate agents are beginning to list houses with solar power at a higher price and having solar panels or photovoltaic panels already installed on your house can be a definite selling point. And from June 2007, every property marketed in the UK will be required to include a Home Information Pack that among other things will provide details of the home’s energy efficiency.

Apart from the cost savings, most people use solar energy for reasons of conservation as well. “Going green” can mean a small but significant contribution to the environment - a solar powered house will produce significantly less Co2 emissions as well.

Solar energy is no doubt here to stay. It doesn’t cause air pollution, destroy habitats or cause poor health – and it is one energy source that shows no signs of being depleted in the foreseeable future.