How Solar Works: Residential Solar Energy Near Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Bluffton

Solar power systems are a smart, efficient solution for lower utility bills and better energy efficiency

If you're interested in solar system installation for your home, it's important to understand how solar energy works. Not only can solar energy solutions make a significant difference in whether your home is environmentally friendly, they can also help you save money through better home energy efficiency. As a trusted solar company with extensive training and experience, Carolina Energy Conservation can handle all of your solar installation needs and provide you with the best renewable energy solutions for your home.

We proudly serve Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Bluffton, and nearby areas throughout South Carolina. Contact us today to learn more, or to schedule your free quote and take the first step toward an energy-efficient home! Keep reading to learn about three essential aspects of solar photovoltaic systems: solar panels, inverters, and net meters.

Image Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Solar Panels:

Solar panel installation is a popular solar energy solution for many homeowners, but you may be wondering just how solar panels can power your electricity. Solar panels rely on the sun for energy, which is why they are located strategically on your roof wherever the sun's rays can hit them most directly. As sunlight strikes the residential solar panels on your roof, the panels collect those solar photovoltaic cells and convert the energy into direct current (DC) electricity.

Inverter:

The DC electricity is then carried into the power inverter, an electronic device or circuitry where DC electricity is converted into alternating current (AC) electricity. AC power is the kind of electricity that you use to power your home. When you plug in appliances such as microwaves, televisions, and toasters, they are receiving AC electricity from the wall outlet.

Net Meter:

A net energy meter directs the power flow to and from your utility, keeping track of the power that your solar panel system produces. During the day, the solar energy you produce powers your home, reducing your purchases of electricity. At night, when your solar panels are not producing electricity, you use power from the utility grid. The net meter makes this process invisible to you. You simply save money along the way!

Many homeowners wonder what happens to the extra energy when your solar panels create more power than you need for your home. When your solar panels generate more electricity than you need, that power goes back into the grid and out to your neighbors. Thanks to the net meter, you get credited for the excess energy that you've created, so that you only have to pay the "net" amount between what you put into the utility grid and what you took out.

Contact Carolina Energy Conservation to learn more about our residential solar panel installation

Whether you're new to residential solar power or simply want to learn more about how your solar panel system provides electricity for your home, we hope that this brief explanation helps. Contact Carolina Energy Conservation, your local solar panel contractor in South Carolina, to find out more about our solar power options and what they can do for your home!

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