Affordable Residential Solar Power

With the cost of electricity continually rising, many people are looking for ways to reduce their power bill. Of course, you can always cut back on usage - lower wattage light bulbs, lowering the thermostat in the Winter and raising the thermostat in the Summer are just some of the ways.

Another alternative is the use of renewable energy such as solar power. Solar power is clean, free and requires a minimum of maintenance. In addition, it has been shown that solar power significantly reduces your power bill by as much as 50% to 80% or even eliminate it altogether.

So what is solar power? How does it lower my power bill? How much does it cost?

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell (PV), is a device that converts light into direct current using the photoelectric effect. For residential use, the direct current is then converted to alternating current and fed into your home's electrical system. Power companies have a meter that measures the amount of electricity generated by the solar system. The cost of this electricity is calculated and deducted from your power bill.

Commercially available solar systems start at around $2,000 and go to around $40,000. Many people don't have this kind of money laying around. Besides, at these levels it can take years to break even on your investment. An alternative is to build your own solar panels.

Do it yourself solar energy has become very popular recently. Step-by-step, fully illustrated guides are available to show you exactly how to build your own solar panels for under $200! Such a project may sound complicated but it is actually very easy. You can even make it a family affair getting the kids involved.

In summary, you can drastically reduce your power bill by using solar energy. And, it is affordable when you do it yourself. Recovering your investment will take months instead of years.

Review some of the guides available by visiting www.solar-wind-power.net

Robert Dinsmore is a self employed computer consultant and internet entrepreneur. We can show you how to drastically reduce your power bill. Visit our website at http://www.solar-wind-power.net/ to learn more.

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