Fossil fuels have really had a bad effect on the atmosphere. It's obvious that dependence on them has to stop. The world needs something cleaner and solar power is it.

How it Works

When light particles from the sun (photons) enter a solar panel, the electrons become separated and produce electrical current. This happens because of the silicon within each panel. Basically, without getting into a lot of technical terms, silicon has the ability to change sunlight into electricity.

This electricity is then converted into AC current, which is what homes use. When the panels produce an excess of electricity, it can be stored in a solar battery. That energy can be used on a cloudy day when the panels are not making as much electricity.

How it Saves Money

When you buy solar panels, right away they begin to pay for themselves. Very soon, they will start reducing the home's electrical bill. In fact, the average family can save almost $1500 a year on electricity just by letting the sun shine on their roof. That can come to $30,000 over the life of the panels.

Another smart way to save money with solar power is to buy a hybrid or "all-electric" vehicle. It can be plugged into a solar battery, which would eliminate the need to fill the hybrid car with gas as often. The electric vehicle won't need fossil fuel at all. Eliminating or reducing gasoline usage saves about $2,000 a year, but more importantly, it is so much better for the planet.

How it Reduces a Homeowner's Carbon Footprint

Solar panels do not release anything toxic into the atmosphere. On the contrary, fossil fuels constantly release carbon into the atmosphere. Carbon is one of the main contributors to global warming. The use of solar panels on a home significantly makes the area surrounding the home more green and lowers the household's carbon footprint.

This exact time on the face of the earth is a crucial one for the planet. There is a very tight window for humans to reverse what they have done to the environment and turn global warming around. If every home in every town invested in solar panels, the reversal could happen much more quickly and easily.

How it Produces Energy All Year

There is no need to doubt if solar panels are right for those who live in a cold climate. Actually, because the panels are black and set at an angle, any snow will quickly melt and slide off, exposing the panels to sun again.

An added benefit of this process is that any dirt or dust that has accumulated on the surfaces will bond with the snow slide off with it.

Despite the fact that there are fewer daylight hours in the colder months, the panels are actually more efficient at producing electricity in the cold. For that reason, home owners in Montana will reap as many benefits from solar panels as those in Florida.

How it Can Increase a Home's Value

Although the immediate benefit of installing solar panels is to be greener and to reduce electricity costs, a long term benefit is that solar panels will increase the value of a home and better your personal finance. In fact, they can increase a home's value by about 4%, which amounts to an extra $10,000 for an average home. So the homeowner benefits while they live in the house, and also when they sell.

Many towns are helping to discount the purchase of solar panels. They can also be installed with the help of a home equity loan, so there is really no reason for a homeowner to hesitate.