The Two Types of Residential Solar Power

As the name suggests, residential solar power is a natural source of power that is generated from sunlight in order to power up homes. It is different from commercial solar power in the way that it more compact and able to be used by even traditional homes.

There are two types of residential solar power to be used. The first type of solar power is “off grid” and the second type is “grid tied” or net metering as it is sometimes called.

Off grid residential solar power is a source of electrical power that is not attached to the electric utility system that your city or town has in place. This type of residential solar power is free of power lines that run to the home, so there is no actual electricity coming into the home other than the solar power that you provide yourself. Instead of electrical outlets you use a residential solar power battery system that provides the back-up power that you need when you do not have enough sunlight providing the solar power. However, on days that you do have plenty of sunlight, the photovoltaic panels can convert the sunlight to energy which is stored inside of the batter for future use. Other than that, it is simply the sun that is providing all of the electricity for your home.

In the grid tied type of residential solar power, you do still need to have power lines that are connected to your cities electrical system. This works as your batter back-up instead of having a solar charged battery. When the sun is shining the electric meter spins backwards so that you are only using the solar powered electricity, but in the case that you have a few days with no sun, and at nighttime, the meter is spinning in a forward direction bringing you electricity from the utility system itself. This type of residential solar power has its own rules and regulations that you need to find out about from your local electrical company, but it is a way to have the back-up that you need while still saving money and saving important resources.

If you are not fully prepared to go towards total residential solar power then grid tied may be a solution to allow you to use what nature is giving you but still have the back-up to make you feel more comfortable. The sun is a renewable resource and will always be around, so if you are ready to make the change then off grid residential solar power might just be what you need to become greener and more conscious of your environment.