More and more across the United States, you are beginning to see companies which offer residential and small business solar energy systems. These companies specialize in solar powered energy systems which are ideal for homes and owners of small businesses, while probably not ideal for the larger solar energy systems which are often seen on sports complexes or large warehouses. Those larger systems rely on several acres of land to generate the maximum amount of energy from hundreds of solar panels located all over the land, since they have to power much larger structures. Residential solar energy systems are usually smaller, utilizing much smaller areas, but are also very efficient and are designed to provide enough energy needed to power their structure (whether it be a home or a small business structure).

Making the switch to residential solar energy is perhaps the most obvious and most beneficial way to instantly reduce your regular energy costs for your home, and that is why we are seeing such rapid increases in residential solar energy systems across the country. While solar energy has been around for some time now, the technology has made great strides and improvements over the past decade or so, making solar energy that much more attractive. It used to be that solar energy was great in theory but was still a work in practice when it came to practical use, but that has all changed. Solar energy is now an affordable and practical option, and homeowners are taking notice and taking advantage by making the switch to clean and renewable solar energy systems.

Initially, solar water heaters were popular among homeowners looking to save a few bucks. That was back when solar energy was not quite as efficient as it is today, and solar water heaters were small solar energy systems which required very little actual energy. The systems would generate and store a small amount of energy, which was then used to power the water heaters. It was a small and simple process, with a low investment (and by extension, very low risk) and a decent reward and amount of money saved. Now, however, the systems are much more efficient, effective, and beneficial.

Solar energy systems have come a long way from those days, and now residential solar energy systems from companies can power entire homes and also store energy for future use. This is perhaps the biggest difference between contemporary solar energy systems and older ones–the ability to store large amounts of energy for future use. It used to be that these systems could generate decent amounts of energy, but they were not great at storing the energy and often had to use much or most of the energy right away.

When you consider the breakdown of an average home’s energy usage, with a low amount of energy being used during the day (when the system is getting the most sunlight and generating the most energy) and much higher amounts of energy later in the evening (when the system is generating little or no energy), this was a very big deal. Now, the systems are much better at converting and storing energy, or they can even send the energy directly to the electric companies. In this situation, the residential solar energy system does not necessarily need a battery on site, as they send the energy on to the electric company, who then stores and keeps track of the energy. The electric company keeps track of energy used and energy generated, and provides energy when the home needs it and credits the home for any excess energy at the end of the billing period.