Across the globe, millions of people power their homes and heat their water with clean, abundant, renewable energy from the sun. Solar energy systems have been around for decades. But in the world, their acceptance has been slow because of their high upfront cost.

Attitudes are changing, however. With concern mounting about carbon dioxide emissions, rising energy costs, and dependence on imported oil, having a power plant on the roof sounds awfully attractive. In fact, after tuning up your house to make it as energy efficient as possible, installing a solar energy system is one of the most powerful steps you can take to green your home.

What’s in It for You

Residential solar energy systems fall into two categories: solar electric systems and solar hot water systems.

- Solar hot water systems, also called solar thermal systems because they capture heat, can provide hot water for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, and other household uses. They can also be used to heat homes, pools, and hot tubs. Similar to solar hot water systems, major advantage of Fuel cells is that they can provide hot water as well as energy in a low carbon manner.

- Solar electric systems, also called photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert the sun’s energy into electricity that can power buildings.

Not every household can benefit from a PV or solar hot water system. If your electricity or water heating costs are extremely low, or if you have too much shade on your roof or property, a solar energy system may not make sense.

But for many people, the energy savings from a PV or solar hot water system will eventually save money, after you’ve recouped the system’s initial cost. In addition, the system can lock in your energy costs, giving you a hedge against future energy price increases.

Although most solar homes still use some fossil-fuel energy, it is possible to meet your home’s entire energy needs with solar electric and solar hot water systems. And as plug-in hybrids and electric cars become more available, someday you may be able to run your car on the sun’s energy.

Solar energy systems may even increase the value of your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a solar energy system may add $10 to $20 to your home’s worth for every dollar in energy costs saved in one year. For example, a system that reduces energy costs by $500 per year might add $5,000 to $10,000 to the home’s value. An added bonus: solar panels can help extend your roof’s life by protecting it from ultraviolet rays and weather.

What’s in It for the Country and the Environment

A residential solar electric or solar hot water system can also be a wise investment in the country’s future and the planet’s health. By supporting solar energy technologies, you are helping to

- Curb global warming

Fossil-fuel power plants are the primary source of CO2 emissions in the United States. Boosting the country’s use of renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency could eliminate the need for nearly a thousand new fossil-fuel power plants over the next 20 years.

- Improve public health

Pollution from existing power plants contributes to more than 600,000 asthma attacks each year. Increasing energy efficiency and our use of renewable energy takes dangerous pollutants out of the air and lets us all breathe a little easier.

- Enhance energy independence and security

Solar energy reduces our nation’s reliance on imported oil. It allows communities and homes to generate their own decentralized power, making it more difficult for terrorists or natural disasters to disrupt the flow of electricity. It also reduces demand on the nation’s strained electricity grid and decreases the need to build expensive new power plants.

- Spur innovation

A growing market for PV and solar hot water systems will drive the renewable energy industry to find solutions for today’s most pressing problems and develop the technologies of tomorrow.

While it’s true that energy and other resources like heavy metals are used to manufacture a PV system, after about three years the clean energy produced and the emissions reduced by the system more than make up for that initial expenditure. Compared with conventional power plants, PV systems reduce greenhouse gas and heavy metal emissions by at least 89%.

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