On my desk I have a digital monitor that gives me a real time view of the power we are using at home at any time. It also will show the power usage for the day and month. Outside I have my roof solar electric panels in place and also I can view the power output on a digital readout at any given time.

At Mid day today my power generated from the solar panels was 2.7 kilo watts per hour. The total energy being used by the house was .75 kw. To be conservative If you have good sunlight for 8 hours I have  generated about 21 kw back into the grid, minus the total of 6 kw use during that time we have a surplus of 15 kw during that 8 hours. If I view this weeks history we are currently using 121 kw per week, and generating 147 kw, pumping about 25 kw back into the grid and getting paid for it.

Obviously this is our model, and elsewhere results could be better or worse, you may use more power than I do or you may use less, you may get more sunlight every day or you may get less. This is just an example of that what you can achieve by installing solar electric panels to your home can do. For us we would usually break about even, sometimes we pay for extra power use and sometimes we get a credit.

This is also based on being hooked up to the national power grid. There is the other option of having your home set up to work on a 12volt system for lighting. This requires having batteries for power storage. This is a totally self sufficient way of using solar energy. I personally have a friend who uses this system; the house is wired for 12 lights, hot water is produced by use of a solar water heater and the stove and refrigerator run on natural gas. He never runs out of power or hot water, even when guests arrive.

So we can see that over a period of 25 years which is the projected life of the solar panels, we will save thousands after our initial investment. The equation can be further improved but the method of how you go about installing your solar panels.

There are three ways to set up your panels.

Buy new and retail from your local supplier. The easy way and for some the only consideration. Drawback, you are paying top dollar.

Diy solar panels. The cheapest option. Make no mistake; diy solar panels are not as good as or better than the commercial equivalents. While this is not a difficult process and can be done by anyone, home built panels will not likely comply with any electrical codes. This type of panel is best left for small hobby type applications

Solar power kits. For my mind these are a great option, readily available and suitable for all different applications, from laptop chargers to solar electric panels for homes. These kits can be a huge cost saving, allowing you to gradually add more panels as you desire.

Solar power lights are fantastic way to add mood and aesthetic to any landscaped area of your garden, patio and decking areas. Solar garden lights recharge during the day and automatically turn on in the evening. Quick to install and offer safety aspects that no other lighting system can.

The conventional  tungsten lamp is quickly being substituted for LED lights. LED’s supply low-cost garden illumination that is simple to install anywhere throughout the backyard as well as outdoor patio – much outside of the reach of your existing power outlets.

Getting the most from solar lighting. There are many applications for solar lighting, here we outline how you can create your own unique environment through the use of solar lights.

Solar deck lighting. Ideal for use on decks as a feature and also for walkways. Use them around your pool and to highligt garden areas. Great for stairs and areas that dont gert much light.

Garden lights with stakes. These are the original garden lights and are still very practical today. All you need to do is push them into the ground. Great for linning driveways and walkways through the garden. There is now a huge variety in these.

Motion Sensor security solar lights.  The thing about solar lighting is that they are so easy to install. With motion sensor solar lights you can now secure as many areas as you like without having to worry about expensive installation and wireing costs.

Solar Spotlights. Excellent for highlighting trees and other garden features. Use them to highlight solar fountains or waterfalls. They can be used to light up any signs you may have, statues, large vases and other garden features. many will give up to 8 to 10 hours of lighting on a single charge.

Solar lamp posts.  Great for any areas around the house, in the garden, drive ways, entry areas and pathways. Available in many styles, traditional or modern. For existing posts such as decking balustrade posts can brighten things up with solar powered deck cap lights. These caps are designed to fit onto the posts of your existing deck.

Solar lamps are tough and made out of exactly the same materials as conventional lighting fixtures. Cheaper solar lighting fixtures are made from weather proof plastics, with much more up market and pricey equipment and lighting  created from copper, bronze, as well as aluminum.

Consequently solar landscape lights are a great way to using the sun’s power for illumination and getting many years of hassle-free operation. You also will be amazed just how effectively solar power lights will light up a garden, pathway, outdoor patio or garden feature.