| When looking at the usefulness of solar power, | | | | appliances in the bedroom for several hours or |
| you have to consider how much power the | | | | more. |
| appliances that you use will tax the system. For | | | | If you want to start converting your house over |
| example if you wish to use a solar powered | | | | to solar energy, it is wise to start small unless |
| generator to run your hot water, you really don't | | | | you have a very big budget. The cost you initially |
| have to put that much effort into figuring out | | | | put into a solar powered project will take a long |
| that a couple of panels will do the trick. But if you | | | | time to turn around and become profitable. Since |
| want to run a window-type air conditioner or a | | | | the Earth's climate is changing, eventually the cost |
| 24-hour freezer, you would have to consider the | | | | of power could override the cost of the initial set |
| possibility of adding more power. | | | | up of solar panels. The long term possibility has to |
| Power-hungry appliances are not conducive to | | | | be entered into the equation. |
| solar power. It can be accomplished, but it is best | | | | For the first project in converting your home |
| to rely on the power grid for your larger | | | | over to solar power, you may want to look at |
| appliances. Then you can selectively pick the | | | | just specific appliances instead of an entire room. |
| appliances that you want to use with solar power. | | | | Of course, when the power goes out your |
| This can be for only one room. For example in | | | | entertainment is virtually gone. You may want to |
| your bedroom you may have a couple of lamps, | | | | just use your solar powered energy for your |
| a television, and a fan. By looking at the amount | | | | television, cable box, VCR or DVD, or other |
| of energy it takes for running those appliances | | | | entertainment equipment. If nothing else, it would |
| and the amount of energy that can be produced | | | | be useful in killing the time until the power grid |
| by a certain number of solar panels, you can | | | | comes back on. |
| make a logical decision to purchase those panels | | | | If you are unsure about solar energy and solar |
| for that use. The rest of the house could run off | | | | power, start small. You can buy a solar panel for |
| the grid. As you invest in solar panels, you can | | | | your portable devices. Even though this is not |
| slowly convert more rooms to full solar energy. | | | | saving a great deal of money, it helps the planet |
| One good thing about solar panels is that if your | | | | when you're not using the power grid to recharge |
| house does have an electrical failure due to a | | | | batteries. You can even buy solar powered panels |
| storm or high winds, you can go into your solar | | | | to power your Game Boy or handheld computer. |
| powered room. You would still be able to watch | | | | A computer's battery only lasts two to three |
| your television and have lights, without depending | | | | hours on the average. If you're away from a |
| on the power grid since it does not supply the | | | | power supply, you could be sitting there with a |
| power needed for those comforts. Even if your | | | | dead box while you could be doing your work, |
| power outage happens at night, the power | | | | surfing the internet, or dealing with your daily |
| collected and the solar batteries can run your | | | | computer tasks. |