Each of these works differently and consists of different equipment.
Residential use of solar panels electricity or heating.
Some states offer sales tax exemptions income tax credits or deductions and property tax exemptions or deductions for solar energy systems.
Passive solar water heaters.
A solar space heater works alongside your current heating system to use the sun s energy to reduce your consumption of oil propane or other fossil fuels.
Solar panels can be mounted on a south facing roof or on the ground.
Some homes also use solar water heating alongside traditional gas heating offering the best of both worlds.
However the amount of power generated by a solar energy system at a particular site depends on how much of the sun s energy reaches it and the size of the system itself.
From sunrise to sunset the solar panels generate direct current electricity dc which is sent to the inverter.
There are two main types of solar water heaters available for residential and commercial use.
A photovoltaic pv solar energy system is composed of solar panels racking for mounting the panels on the roof electrical wiring and an inverter.
A typical grid connected solar pv system allows the home to use solar electricity as well as electricity supplied by the local electric utility.
Active solar heating systems are most cost effective in cold climates with good solar resources when they are displacing the more expensive heating fuels such as electricity propane and oil.
They typically have 13 to 16 percent efficiency ratings.
Polycrystalline solar panels are less efficient than monocrystalline solar panels since they are not as pure.
Solar space heating systems are an effective and excellent way to reduce costly energy bills during your heating season.
Active solar water heaters.
Sometimes trees must be trimmed or cut down so that panels can receive maximum sunlight.
This type of solar panel requires more space than the monocrystalline panels to produce the same amount of electricity.
Solar water heating systems can produce enough hot water to fulfill most of your daily domestic hot water needs.
Like solar photovoltaic panels solar thermal collectors only work efficiently when the sun is shining.
Most solar water heating systems use an electric heating system to provide consistent hot water in winter or on cloudy overcast days.