Solar Power For Your Budget
By Kate, age 19, New Hampshire
Sweet Designs Staff Intern
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
People everywhere are starting to help out in the effort to keep Earth clean. You can buy energy saving light bulbs in stores, recycle and reuse, even use less electricity in your home and business. They seem like only little things, but if enough people do them, they add up. But, is it really enough?
Now, homes are even being built "green", but this comes at a high price. So, if you want to do more than just recycle, but you can't just leave your house for a very expensive green home, what can you do?
Solar panels, of course!
Solar panels are currently being sold in stores everywhere, such as The Home Depot, and for only $10,000! Sure, it sounds like a lot now, but a one-time $10,000 expense for the average homeowner could equal hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings! And, not only are you saving money, you are saving our Earth from unnecessary pollution.
So, how does it work? Easy enough - you buy the panels and everything that comes with it, install them yourself or hire a professional, and voila! Instant solar power!
The panels are made to collect the sunlight and are supposedly powerful enough to catch the rays even in cloudy weather. This sunlight gets turned into energy that is stored in a type of battery, thus powering your house by sunlight.
What's the catch? As far as I can see, there is none! Even in harsh storms and power outages, your house is sure to stay lit as the panels and battery have collected and saved all the extra energy. So, when your neighbors are out of power, you are cooking a homemade dinner and keeping up with the news, all thanks to sunlight!
What if I don't want the extra energy, you ask? Supposedly, you will be able to sell your extra energy back to the electric companies. So, now you're saving money, helping the Earth, and earning some extra money on the side! Oh, and did I mention, you don't even have to move out of your house? Now you can be green without leaving the comfort of your home - and save money, too!
While it is still new and debatable now, I see this as something greatly improving our future. It is affordable for almost anyone and saves you a boat load of money in the end! I'm not saying you have to go and get this right now, but it's certainly something to consider. My parents already have! I'm excited to be able to have something like this as part of our home and enjoy the benefits it offers. I know it is something I will seriously consider when I settle down into my own house with my family! I pass this information on to you all and hope you will be as excited as I am to make a difference, and stay within your budget!
