It’s time for you to start taking energy savings into your own hands. No more depending on the power company for all of your electric needs. But before you jump in and buy the first system that strikes your fancy, here are some common solar basics you need to know to make the best decision.
- Solar array – A solar array is a series of solar panels wired together. Arrays are assembled to create the desired solar energy for a particular location.
- Solar cell – A solar cell is the unit in which solar energy is converted into electric energy. Several solar cells are linked together to create a solar panel.
- Photovoltaic – This is the term used for the actual process of converting light energy into electricity.
- Irradiance – Irradiance is the measurement of how much light hits a particular surface over a defined amount of time. Most irradiance levels are measured in hours.
- Peak sun hours – Peak sun hours are the hours in which the photovoltaic output of a solar panel or array is equal to or greater than 1,000 watts per meter squared. If your system reaches these levels for five hours a day, your system would be said to have five peak hours for that day.
- Efficiency of solar cells – This is a measurement of the amount of sunlight that is converted into electric energy. No solar cell is 100 percent efficient, as some sunlight will reflect off the surface of the cell or is not converted to energy.
For more information on the solar basics and how to choose the right solar solutions for your home, call the experts at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning today. We provide quality HVAC services to homeowners throughout Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about solar basics and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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