It's hard to imagine life without electricity. In our homes, we rely on it to power our lights, appliances, and electronics. Many of us also use electricity to provide our homes with hot water, heat, and air conditioning.

But as we use more electricity in our homes, our electric bills rise. In turn, fossil-fueled power plants not only generate more electricity, but also more pollution. The continued reliance on and depletion of fossil-fuel resources threatens our energy security.

Fortunately we can use the sun to make our own clean energy, from heating our water to supplying some or all of our electricty needs. Two common clean energy systems installed in the home are solar thermal and photovoltaic. Both systems harness sunlight to produce clean reuseable energy. Even though these are considered solar energy systems, the equipment, technologies and costs are substantially different for each.

Reduce your homes energy consumption

• Purchase energy-efficient appliances
• Use new lighting technologies
• Weatherize your home

How It Works

Types of Solar Energy

Learn more about Solar water heating (SWH) and Solar electric (PV).

SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM

A renewable energy system can be
used to supply some or all of your
electricity needs.

PHOTOVOLTAIC "PV" SYSTEM