How and Why You Might Install Solar Panels

Humanity has always needed energy for doing work, and for much of history, energy came from simple human and animal labor, such as blacksmiths or animals pulling farm plows. The Industrial Revolution introduced steam power and factories, where machines allowed for the mass production of goods and much higher levels of power for work. Electricity was soon developed as well due to Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, and by the 20th century, fossil fueled power plants became the norm across the developed world. They are still in use today, but fossil fuel plants are coming under heavy scrutiny due to their emissions. Many voices call out for newer and cleaner energy sources to help curb pollution, and solar energy has proven itself a viable alternative. Solar installers can help set up solar panel arrays on homes and commercial buildings alike, and these panels are becoming more popular, price-friendly, and powerful than ever. In the United States today, states such as Texas, California, and North Carolina are leading the way in solar power. A homeowner may search “solar panels raleigh nc”, for example, if they are interested in getting some panels put on their house. A search like “solar panels raleigh nc” or “solar panel installers san diego ca” may show many local solar installation companies.

Why Solar

There are certainly some advantages to using solar power rather than fossil fuel power plants for electricity, and a homeowner who looks up “solar panels raleigh nc” or “solar panels in dallas tx” may be getting their foot in the door of an energy-efficient future indeed. Solar panels date back to the 1970s, when they were first pioneered, but now in the 2010s, they are more economically viable and are used widely around the world. One advantage of solar power is that its source, our very own sun, is impossible to exhaust. A coal seam or a natural gas pocket can be mined dry, but the sun exists on a truly astronomical scale, and it will shone for another five billion years. And its power output is similarly vast; more solar energy flows across the Earth each day than is used in all of industrialized civilization, many times over. The sheer scale of solar power means that, in theory, it could support several Earths of humanity all at once.

Another major reason to look up “solar panels raleigh nc” or something similar is the reduction of pollution. Curbing emissions is a major reason why energy sources such as solar and wind farms are used, as these energy sources do not create any by products of any kind while in operation. Even the largest solar panel arrays do not give off any gases, liquids, or anything else while working, as they merely use sunlight to excite electrons inside them. No fuels of any kind are put into the solar array. Thus, enough solar panels can replace the energy production that a fossil fuel plant can provide, and the fossil fuel plant can then be shut down. This maintains energy production while eliminating emissions, which is generally the goal with solar panels.

Getting Panels Installed

Where might solar panels be installed? Another advantage of these panels is that they can be arranged in any scale necessary for work. Homeowners can hire local solar panel installation crews to set up these panels on their roof, with only a few panels being needed to supply the house with enough power. The homeowner will allow crews to set up the support brackets, install the panels and necessary wiring, and wait for officials to inspect the entire setup. Once it is cleared, the panels begin work and the house is disconnected from the power grid. Commercial buildings such as office buildings may do the same on a slightly larger scale.

Very large arrays may contain hundreds or even thousands of arrays, often placed on bare ground outside of urban areas. In the United States, such arrays are often found in the Southwest, where there is ample open ground and little cloud cover. Under such ideal conditions, these huge arrays can generate enough electricity for entire neighborhoods or city blocks at a time, replacing local fossil fuel power plants along the way.