Nearly everyone is feeling the crunch of the energy crisis.
Energy prices in all areas, including gas, diesel, electric, propane and even ethanol are climbing.
It costs more so we're getting much less bang for our buck.
It's time we look at ways to save money, save energy and be proactive in our hunt for a more efficient planet.
One of those methods is by using solar energy.
Prototypes are being made for solar powered cars, but solar heating for homes has been around for decades already.
Why aren't we taking more advantage of it? Solar panels convert light into electricity.
Decades ago they were cost prohibitive for most people, but they are dropping in price.
That doesn't mean they are cheap, so if you're switching to solar it's a great time to also carefully evaluate your electricity use.
Solar panels are photovoltaic power sources capable of recharging batteries.
The minimum battery size and solar panel output required depends on the average current drain of the system, the maximum time the battery must supply power to the system without being charged, and the location of the site.
These days, solar panels are becoming increasingly efficient due to improvements in design technology.
The up front cost is what deters most people, but over the long term you'll come out ahead on your energy savings.
Some people are able to take it the extra step and store their excess energy in batteries to either use later for themselves or sell back to the electric company.
Over the decades a solar panel will gradually lose some of its abilities to convert energy, but we're talking decades, not just a couple of years.
And most are warranted to maintain at least an 80% efficiency rating up to 25 years.
That's really not that much loss over the long term.