Solar Panels and Wind Turbines

We can all do our share to reduce the impact our lifestyles has on the environment. Using public transport, adopting a vegan diet, cycling, recycling and generally consuming less are some of the options available. Besides, choosing alternative energy for the home can play a significant role to reduce our carbon footprint. In that respect, solar panels and wind turbines are two of the most popular solutions.

Solar panels, or photovoltaic panels (PV), are designed to harness solar power as it hits the earth. These are crystalline silicon panels that capture sunlight and turn it into electricity, which is then stored in a battery bank. When battery charges drop below a certain level, the solar panels recharge the batteries. Photovoltaic panels can be mounted on a rooftop or a freestanding solar array rack. Of course, one property can have both solar panels and wind turbines.

Wind turbines are electric generators that utilize wind energy to produce clean power for homes, farms and small businesses. This increasingly popular technology type can help individuals to generate their own power, cut their energy bills and protect the environment at the same time. The U.S. is the world leader in the production of small wind turbines (with rated capacities of 100 kilowatts and less) and the market is expected to continue getting stronger over the next decade. Solar panels and wind turbines are becoming increasingly common sights across the U.S. and the world as we move toward a cleaner economic system.

The same household can make use of both solar panels and wind turbines to generate power. Ideally that would take place on a location blessed with abundant wind and sunshine. In such cases, the household can choose to live completely off-grid or intertie to a utility company for additional electricity. That would allow the household to sell any excess electricity generated by the solar panels and wind turbines back into the grid.