Smart Energy Living Start With Solar Power Panels
Even though people generally think of solar power panels as some sort of oversized reflective box that catches the sun’s rays, that perception is changing quickly as the technology for solar cells is progressing.
The heat that is continuously created by the sun can be harnessed for use in heating both water systems and ventilation systems through a solar power panel, generally called a photovoltaic or PV panel. A solar power panel is lined with semi-conductive material, usually silicon-based, which generates electricity whenever light from the sun goes through it. The lining is known as the solar cell. The electricity travels via the semi-conductive material to the electrical system powering your house.
For many years solar power panels were restricted to large, boxy enclosures. Now, the development of solar cells has been opening up new ways of incorporating solar energy production for the home and at work. Solar cells may be integrated now into a large variety of building materials; such technology is generally known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics. Solar cells may now be incorporated into almost anything from roofing to the edges of glass window panes.
Solar cells integrated into your roofing material offer you the same protective properties as traditional asphalt shingles while collecting the suns energy at the same time. The same technology can also be applied to exterior walls, skylights, windows, awnings, walkway coverings, car ports, and it seems as though every day a new way to integrate solar power panels into everyday materials becomes available.
Many kinds of solar power panel assemblies are mounted off the building itself. The two most popular kinds are pole-mounted or ground mounted fixtures both of which allow placement of solar panels where they will get maximum sun exposure, thus giving greater flexibility in both solar system and building design. Solar panels generate some power with only indirect exposure to sunlight, but you’ll generate the most amount of solar power only if there is direct exposure of solar panels to the sun’s full rays.
Ground-mounted structures are typically mounted to metal frames that are anchored into the ground via traditional construction methods. These frames may be built with motorized mounts for solar power panels, which let them track or follow the course of the sun during the daylight hours.
Pole-mounted structures, mounted to either the side or top of a metal pole, can also be built to have the solar panels move with or track the path of the sun to get the optimum amount of solar exposure during the course of the day.