Now solar panels are catching on more than ever. I came across an article te other day about DIY solar installation. Some of our favorite mass retailers like Home Depot and Lowes are stocking them for online or onsite purchase for do-it-yourselfers. Is this is a good idea? Fixing a clogged toilet or changing the oil in your car is one thing but installing your own solar system…hmmm not so sure. In addition to the electricity that you will need to navigate you also have plenty of permission slips to get from utility companies and your city government before climbing up the ladder with large expensive solar panels usually costing about a grand each.

The popularity of solar energy has tripled since 2005 according to the Interstate<object Renewable Energy Council. It is estimated that a quarter million US homes generate some solar energy and a recent poll by the Solar Energy Industries Association indicates that half of the people surveyed were considering solar power for their home or business. Obviously popularity for solar energy is continuing to rise and it will be interesting to see if costs for home solar panels decrease over the next couple of years.

Many customers interested in converting to a solar home were already purchasing solar powered water heaters, outdoor solar landscape lighting, LED bulbs, and other energy saving items. These are a few ways home and business owners can prep their properties and convert to full solar power with a smaller footprint compared to a home with no energy efficient equipment or appliances.

Although do-it-yourself is going to occur regardless, as a third of total costs can be saved this way, most people still rely on professional installation. With grants and incentives available to home and business owners for converting to solar power, a professional install makes sense and probably will save a lot of headaches and accidents.

When it comes to the environment and energy alternatives, solar energy and the global advantages it creates, is at the forefront of the green energy movement. All other energy sources we use are limited or produce harmful by-products. Nuclear energy has radioactive waste and we all know the political and public hot potato that source is. Also, there’s no such thing as clean coal and we know that electrical power is another form of dirty energy that also is not in endless abundance.

Now consider solar power, the ultimate alternative energy source that will be available providing that our sun continues to rise. However, tapping into this ultimate source and converting it into useable energy for all societies is the challenge that lies ahead. As we all know great advancements have already been made in this field and will continue to move forward.

Every day the sun provides enough solar energy to power the globe for a year. Despite continued advancements in the collection and utilization of solar power, just one tenth of one percent is harnessed towards the global demand of energy. Now according to a recent National Geographic story, solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies could generate enough electricity equal to 40 times the world’s present electricity use. Photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, are a familiar site to most as they are commonly seen on roof tops, outdoor solar garden lighting, in calculators, and of course used on NASA spacecraft. When sunlight heats these solar panels electrons are released from their atoms resulting in the generation of electricity as the electrons flow the solar cell.