| People across the United States are finding that | | | | be in place. Net metering measures how much |
| installing a photovoltaic solar system can generate | | | | power a home or business produces compared to |
| surplus electricity. The best customer for your | | | | how much it uses. When they are equal amounts, |
| renewable energy system, next to your own | | | | the cost to the customer is zero dollars. Any |
| household, is your public utility company. But first, | | | | extra power produced is sold back to the |
| let's discuss renewable energy. | | | | electricity company at a profit. |
| By definition, the source of an energy supply | | | | Simply put, when the sunlight is shining brightly |
| determines whether it is considered renewable | | | | during the day, PV systems convert it into free |
| energy. Wind, rain, ocean tides, and sunlight are | | | | electricity. If the day is especially cloudy or energy |
| common sources of renewable energy. | | | | needs of the home or building are high, the power |
| Earth-stored heat, termed geothermal power, and | | | | company supplies whatever more is needed from |
| biomass, a moniker for any biological material, are | | | | the utility grid. However, if the business or home |
| other energy sources that are also considered | | | | is producing more energy than it needs, the extra |
| renewable, along with hydroelectricity, which is | | | | electricity is directed back to the grid, spinning the |
| produced by moving water. | | | | meter in a reverse direction. Special meters must |
| Home solar panels, also known as photovoltaic | | | | be installed to accommodate this arrangement. |
| panels, convert sunbeams into electricity, and | | | | The utility company keeps an accounting of what |
| have proven themselves as credible sources of | | | | is provided and what is received, reconciling the |
| energy for homes across America as well as in | | | | account at the end of each billing cycle. If the |
| other parts of the world. PV solar panels are | | | | consumer has produced more than it has used, |
| made from cells containing simple electrical circuits. | | | | the electricity is sold back to the power company. |
| Semiconductor wafers are manufactured with | | | | It is necessary to ensure that the utility company |
| negative and positive energy fields on opposing | | | | has a buy-sell agreement and policy in place. A |
| sides. Placing electrical conductors on both wafer | | | | photovoltaic solar system installer may be able to |
| sides forms a circuit. Rays from the sun strike | | | | negotiate the agreement and handle the |
| the surface of the wafer, releasing electrons | | | | paperwork as well. |
| from the atoms of light, which are now renamed | | | | Having your own renewable energy company in |
| photo-electrons. This completes the current, thus | | | | the form of a photovoltaic solar system can bring |
| creating usable electricity. | | | | unique satisfaction to both homeowners and |
| To sell electricity back to the local power | | | | businesses. If your goal is simple living and leaving |
| company, a policy known as net metering must | | | | a small footprint on the planet, give it a try. |