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Going Solar: What You Need to Know

June 22, 2022

Soaring prices of utilities got us thinking if there are other options that can make us save more money. One particular solution that has been making waves in recent years is installing solar panels. The next questions would be:
  1. How do solar panels work?
  2. Is it worth the investment?
Solar panels: How do they work?
First, we delve into how solar panels work. The solar panels installed on your roof, maybe on your garage roof specifically, can power the lights, electric garage door, security cameras, and even charge your electric car battery. A modern solar panel generates an average of 350 watts under full sun and receives 3-7 hours of peak sunlight per day. That still depends on the time of the year or season, and the location of your house. There are four main components of a solar power system:
  1. Solar Panels - They absorb the sunlight.
  2. Inverter - Responsible for converting the direct current electricity to alternating current electricity.
  3. Racking - It is the mounting system that attaches the solar panels to the roof.
  4. Energy Storage Batteries - They store the excess electricity that could be used at a later time.
If you are unfamiliar with how the solar panels are translating electricity from the sun, here is a brief run-through of the process:
  1. The sunlight is a carrier of tiny bits of energy called photons. This energy then hits the solar panel, which contains the solar cells.
  2. Once the photons hit the top layer of the solar cell, the electrons will flow to the bottom layer of the cell.
  3. Now, the electrons will transform from direct current electricity to alternating current electricity through conductive wiring to the inverter.
The cost of solar panels
Installing solar panels is relatively expensive. And the cost still depends on how much wattage and the size of your property that needs electricity generated from the solar panels. However, one thing’s for sure is that the long-term cost of solar panels is cheaper than buying electricity from the grid.
Why the benefits of using solar panels outweigh the initial costs
Initial costs of installing the solar panels may hinder you at first, but if you study more of its benefits, it can actually let you save more money in the long run. And here are some of the benefits of solar power:
  1. It significantly reduces energy costs
  2. The panels could last up to 30 years
  3. It does not require maintenance in most instances
  4. In many states, rebates are offered for installing solar panels on your roof
  5. Good for the environment as it does not produce air pollution
Other things should you consider before installing solar panels
Before diving into utilizing solar energy to power your electricity, there are some things that you should think through.
  1. Measure your energy use. It is important to determine how much energy you use at home so you would know how many solar panels to install, and how much energy can be covered by solar power.
  2. Inspect your garage roof. Solar panels can be on the heavier side, so check your garage roof if it can handle the weight. And if your roof is due for repairs, finish that first so that the cost of installment would not be doubled.
  3. Determine where to install the solar panels. To maximize the solar panels, locate in what direction or part of your roof would get the maximum amount of sunlight.
More money-saving tip: Invest in a reliable storage system
While you invest in money-saving technology for cutting your electricity costs, might as well invest also in keeping your garage clean and tidy. A clutter-free garage could be the cause of why you have been spending more than the average. One could be because your stuff tends to get damaged because of an unorganized way of storing them, and two, it makes your garage space dark and hot, so you tend to use more electricity by turning on the lights and AC or electric fans. So start by rummaging through all your belongings and sorting them according to function and need. The easiest way to do that is to keep all of them off their storage and lump them in one space. Then go through them and sort them into for keeping, donating, or throwing. For the ones you decide to keep, sort them further into for everyday use and seasonal use. In this way, you will know where to put these items away in your garage space. The next step is to utilize a functional and sturdy storage system. You can make use of an overhead storage rack or wall shelves. Storage systems that can be installed on the walls or ceilings are best to use because you will free much valuable floor space in the garage. And another thing is that it is easier to identify which items are stored on these storage systems because they are neatly kept that way. You have to decide what kind of storage organization will fit perfectly for your garage. Keep in mind the height of the room and how wide the walls can be used to install this storage. Also note that when installing either overhead garage storage or wall shelf, make sure that the doors or windows are out of the way, and of course, your vehicles if you intend to use the garage as a parking space as well. For your everyday items, the Fleximounts WS SERIES Adjustable 3-Tier Wall Shelving is the perfect additional storage space for your walls. Its powder-coated steel assures sturdiness. Likewise, the heavy-gauge construction provides safety loading of up to 100 lbs per shelf. The screws provided are thicker in size compared to other shelves in the market. An excellent feature this wall-mounted shelf offers is that it is flexible enough to be adjusted depending on the height of your wall and according to your needs. The WS Series allows you to assemble and disassemble it conveniently because of the patent tool-free adjustment design. Another selling point of this shelf is that installation can be a one-person activity. The installation template that helps mount holes and the bubble level that helps get perfect horizontal location is already provided. The wall shelving is compatible with either concrete or wood walls as well as it is suitable for securing either solid concrete ceiling or ceiling studs.