I'd like to talk about my own home solar energy system. I've seen a lot of talk about the benefits of solar energy, but it is rare to actually hear from someone who has a home solar energy system.

So I decided it was time to step forward let you know the facts and myths of a home solar energy system. Read through the rest of this article, and you'll see why a solar power installation can be an excellent investment for home owners.

Start Small
I started my home solar energy system in baby steps. I installed a few solar panels on my roof, and used them to power my garage. Nothing fancy, mind you, but it was a sort of test. And I saw the monthly electric bill drop by almost 25% the first month I had my basic home solar energy system in operation! I have to admit, I was excited about adding more panels, and my home solar energy system quickly grew large enough to provide more than 50% of all the electricity I use. If you consider that I sell some of the solar power my home solar energy system produces back to the utility company, I am averaging about an 65% reduction on electricity costs!

Add and Expand
My next step is to replace my hot water heater with a solar water heater. I saw that by installing a simple recirculation system inline with my solar water heater, I will have hot water instantly available at the tap (no more waiting for it come from the heater!), and be able to have more hot water available at one time. That will save money on my utility bill, and offer me a greater amount of convenience. And the cost is really not much more than the cost of a new electric water heater, making the transition to a complete home solar energy system a process that involves greater savings for me as it progresses.

Innovate!
Next year, I'm even going to put in radiant heat! I think that's probably the last step in a complete home solar energy system, and it is really just an extension of the other components of solar energy. You see, solar power is used to heat air or a liquid, which circulates (by force of the heat generated!) under the flooring, keeping the room at a comfortable level more efficiently than any other form of heat could ever do. My goal is to be completely off the grid in another two years, and it hasn't been as difficult to get to this point as I would have thought when I first began my experimental home solar energy system.