Reduce Demand on Fossil Fuel Generated Electricity - Harness Solar Energy With DIY Solar Panel Plans

Through detailed instructions found in DIY solar panel plans, any homeowner can harness free renewable resource energy from both the Sun and wind. Construction and installation of solar panels immediately begins generating energy and is readily available on demand for any appliance or light in the home. Additionally, wind turbines (also known as windmills) harness the available wind energy, and immediately convert it into electricity. Heating solar, or solar water heating, uses the warmth produced by the rays of the sun to heat tubes filled with water, which is then transferred and stored in a hot water tank.

Most home solar systems are constructed based on kilowatt output. A 1-kilowatt home solar energy-producing system contains between 10 to 12 solar panels and require approximately one hundred square feet of area to function. This system can produce approximately 1700 kilowatt hours per year, based on 5 1/2 hours of direct sunlight each day. Typical households in the United States use on average 8500-9000 kilowatt hours per year, meaning most houses would require 70-90 solar panels to meet 100 percent of the electrical demands of the home.

There are other alternatives to capture renewable resource energy to help offset the continuing energy requirements of a single residence. Constructing a Combined Energy System, using multiple sources to generate electricity, can produce all the home's needed energy at a greatly reduced price. Solar panels, wind turbines, solar water heaters, solar ovens, thermal energy, water turbine energy and bio-diesel are just some of the free renewable resources available to most homeowners.

Any individual capable of performing basic construction tasks can assemble their own do-it-yourself solar energy-generating panel system capable of producing enough electricity to meet all the energy requirements of their family's home. This is easily accomplished through the simple design of a solar panel, which typically contains solar photo voltaic cells, an inverter, a charge controller, a battery, a framing structure and wiring. Because there are no moving parts in a solar panel, it can produce consistent electricity for decades with little or no maintenance required.

Wind turbines are a valuable asset in a combined "green" energy producing system, because it uses an alternative renewable energy for the times when the Sun has set, or in conjunction with solar panels. Using the powerful force of wind to turn a generator, a windmill easily produces electricity continuously while it turns. Wind is more prevalent in late fall and winter when the days are shorter, and less frequent during the summer months when there is more daylight to generate electricity by solar power.