Why Solar Panels Are Bad - The Downside of Using Solar Panels in Your Home

With everyone always talking about how great solar panels are these days (I admit, including myself) I figured I'd do some research and look into the downsides of using them to supplement the power for your home. I thought I'd share with my readers why solar panels are bad and other negative side effects of using solar energy in your home. Here's a short list of what I've found out:

1. One of the most important things first: if you have no sunlight you have no power! Seems obvious but no one really mentions this do they? If you don't live in a area that gets (on average year round) 6 - 8 hours of sunlight a day it may not be a viable option for you. Sorry but that's just the plain truth. You can still use them but if you want the same benefit as sunnier climates you'll need to use more panels. The only way to fix this is to have a battery backup system or remain connected to the grid...which may not necessarily be what you want. (Or you can tie your solar system with another alternative energy system such as wind power.)
2. Another reason why solar panels are bad is the inefficiency of the system itself. The best panels you can buy (or make) are only at most 40% efficient. Meaning that you only use 40% of the power you absorb from the sun and the rest is lost in the conversion process. Scientists are working every day to make their efficiency better but it hasn't happened yet.
3. The third and most important: Commercial solar panels cost a lot of money to have installed in your home. The average startup cost for an average home in the United States is $20,000. Most of us can't afford to spend that kind of money to save money and help the environment.

I hope you find this information of why solar panels are bad helpful in making a decision regarding whether or not solar power is the right solution for you.
To combat the high costs of have a professional solar panel installation for your home you can easily find a DIY guide on the internet and build your own for less than $200 a piece. Just be sure to find a good guide that will take you step by step throughout the entire process.

Interested in learning more about solar panels for your home? Visit http://www.diysolarwind.org and learn more!
If you would like to learn more about helping the environment and saving money discover more at http://www.greentipsforyou.com