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How does solar power work? Well, it is quite simple really. Solar Panels will harness the power of the sun's rays and turn it into energy, usually electricity or for heating water. For electricity, you would need a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel. These come in various sizes according to your needs. Although traditionally it is more costly to have PV solar panels than solar water heaters, with new technologies rapidly emerging, the cost is fast becoming affordable for all. And you could always install solar panels yourself at a very low cost. For more information click here.
For heating water you would require a solar collector. This captures heat from the sun in glass tubes and heats the water therefore reducing your gas or electricity bill considerably. The only drawback with these is the cost of installing them. It can be quite costly - around £2000 ($4000) - but if you know a bit about DIY you can do most, if not all of it, yourself. Here in the UK, I sell ready-to-go diy solar heating kits for a fraction of the price you will find anywhere else. If you are in the US I would recommend this solar water heater kit. For a more in-depth look at installing solar panels for electricity the DIY route click here.
Click on our solar power gadgets for great gift ideas. To return to our renewable energy page. To return to our solar energy home page.
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