Residential solar energy is a way where individuals can make a big difference. The first things to consider are the amounts of solar energy that we use already. We already use solar energy to light out houses by having windows, and perhaps to heat them by having south facing conservatories. If building our own houses, perhaps we should think about how we could fully utilize this fantastic and free light source. If it is not possible to have windows in the conventional sense, then perhaps roof lights or even light tubes could be used to create light without the need for artificial lights. Of course, after dark, there will be a need for artificial lighting and a south facing house will not be warm enough all the year round even if there is sunshine in the winter.

There will be different guidelines for different countries on how many solar panels will be needed in order to create enough energy to run a house. Some people may think that their country does not have enough sunny days, but there are places where you can look this up on the Internet and it is surprising, that even on cloudy days, there is enough light to produce some energy. Some countries provide grants towards paying for solar panels as well so that could be a great option to cut costs.

If solar panels are too big an investment for you, then there are other ways that you can use solar power. There are many small electrical items that can be powered this way. The demand for items which run on clean energy is increasing and we also tend to carry more electrical gadgets out and about than we used to. This means that portable solar panels are becoming popular. You can use these when you are out camping or picnicking to charge up things like your MP3 player or mobile phone. These are great as there is likely to be no other source of electricity outdoors and you can just attach the solar panel to your bag or clothing and charge your equipment.

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Quick Tip #1

Solar energy is best for countries that get a lot of sunlight. It can be a great source of electricity and help add to the current supply, providing a cheaper and renewable source that causes no pollution.

Quick Tip #2

In India it is possible for the country to be able to produce more energy from the sun than they would ever use. This is because they receive a huge amount of sunlight and their population is not massively in demand of electricity.