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Unplugged Living

Hot Solar Tips

by Noel on May 7th, 2008

I know. It’s summer already and we can all feel the fierce heat of the summer sun right now. And so I discovered ten tips on how we could all use to our advantage solar power. I’ll share with you the first five today and the last five tomorrow. That way, you can absorb what these first five tips tell you.

  • Whatever solar power system or product you plan to utilize, always ensure that the solar panel faces in the direction of the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the panel must face south and at an angle to the horizontal equal to your latitude plus 15º.
  • Before meeting a consultant regarding the installation of a solar power system, always have on hand a list of all your electrical appliances together with their wattage and the hours of use. Any dealer worth his salt will need to know this information.
  • Before committing to a specific power system always check to find out exactly what the local, state and federal incentives are in your town. All this information can be found at the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy) database at http://www.dsireusa.org/
  • Always have a local licensed installer put in your system (but make sure he has experience with Grid connected systems) - they know all the local regulations and will be able to give you valuable information regarding these rules.
  • Keep solar panels clean - even if it means getting up onto your roof once a month. A thin layer of dust or dirt on the glass cover will effectively block off some solar power and the system will operate below its maximum efficiency.

[Via Solar Energy]

POSTED IN: Solar

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