Change is inevitable, but often does not come easily. For years, many people have resisted the chance to invest in solar panels for their homes. Most sight the high initial cost as the reason they haven't invested. Others claim that they don't understand solar panels and how solar energy can have an impact on their life.

There are a number of companies, government entities, non-profit agencies and research organizations that devote themselves wholly to furthering solar technology. Providing eco-friendly, energy efficient solutions to households across the world will have far reaching benefits to everyone involved. Understanding how solar panels work and how they can have an effect on your life can go a long way in dispelling myths and affirming truths.

The purpose of solar panels is to convert the sun's raw energy (sunlight) into a usable form of electricity (DC). Solar panels are organized, typically on a rooftop or ground-mounted unit, into an array. The sunlight that hits these panels causes an electrical current to flow into an inverter. As the name implies, this inverter converts the DC electricity into a more commonly used form (AC) for household use. This is the same kind of power supplied to your home from your utility company. Once the power passes through the inverter, it is distributed throughout your home for use, or can be stored in batteries for future use. Storage capacity is crucial and offers a variety of benefits during dark times or times of the year when days are shorter.

Some common benefits of solar energy systems:

·       Reduced power bills - If you're generating your own power, you won't need to pay for as much power from your utility company.

·       Increased property value - Making large-scale improvements to a home will certainly increase / improve value.

·       Better for the environment - Less reliability on traditional and/or man-made energy resources is better for the environment.

·       Durable system - The expected lifespan of the typical solar panel is 30 years.

So now that you know a little bit about solar panels and how they work, how do you determine if your home is suitable for such application?

·       Roof - To get the most benefit from your solar panels, the best orientation of your roof is south-facing.

·       Shade - How much direct sunlight does your roof receive, on average, throughout the year? Seven to eight hours per day is optimal.

·       Utility company - Does your utility company allow you to "tie" your system into their system so that your excess power can be "sold back" to them?

With tax incentives and rebates available from federal, state and local governments there has never been a better time to invest in solar energy. Consider doing your part to reduce energy dependency. Seek out your local solar installer and get the ball rolling.

Justin Green is the President of Southern View Energy, a that is dedicated to sustainable living solutions, solar energy projects and eco-friendly applications.