| Both of these sustainable energy sources have | | | | great energy saving systems as they can greatly |
| far more positive attributes than any one carbon | | | | decrease either electric or gas costs in generating |
| based energy type but there are a great many | | | | hot water as they require very little time in direct |
| locations around the world where both can be | | | | sunlight to heat water or water based glycol in |
| utilized. So how can anyone decide which is best | | | | their closed loop circuits. The heat that is |
| for their particular use and which of these two will | | | | generated in these systems cannot escape or be |
| provide reliable energy? Given that both of the | | | | transferred into the air because of the nature of |
| systems most commonly used in generating | | | | the closed loop so heat builds quickly and is |
| electricity from these two energy sources are | | | | retained very well through superior insulating |
| fairly expensive it is safe to say that not many | | | | materials used in their tank construction. These |
| people will attempt to purchase and install both. | | | | systems have also been known to have been |
| Site assessor's can easily help you determine | | | | coupled with outdoor wood burning systems |
| which is the best system for your particular use | | | | which are also used to heat homes as well as |
| but ultimately this selection is based on your own | | | | water which further decrease usage of carbon |
| particular energy needs and in just how much you | | | | based fuel generated energies. |
| personally wish to decrease your dependence | | | | Wind turbine systems have been used for |
| upon carbon based fuels. | | | | centuries around the world providing energy to |
| Solar energy systems have a number of | | | | grain mills and well pumps primarily and it has only |
| shortcomings that include a limited energy | | | | been in recent years which they have been |
| conversion percentage which is to say the | | | | engineered for use in generating electricity. The |
| amount of total sunlight they are capable of | | | | continual improvements that are being |
| converting to electrical energy. They tend to take | | | | implemented into the designs of these systems |
| up quite a bit of roof space unless of course you | | | | are very quickly out pacing those of solar energy |
| have them installed in pole mounted configurations | | | | systems with new inverter designs, braking |
| which will also increase their energy generation | | | | systems and generators making them far more |
| capacity. They also do not generate electrical | | | | reliable year round. However, their price tags can |
| energy after the sun sets each night and unless | | | | be somewhat higher than those found in solar |
| you are using a battery backup system to store | | | | energy systems but due to their higher energy |
| this energy you will still have to use grid supplied | | | | generation volume make up for any financial |
| power during the evening hours. However, for | | | | shortcoming. To their credit the energy |
| systems that require smaller volumes of electrical | | | | generation capabilities they offer can by far out |
| energy such as solar powered lighting systems or | | | | pace that of solar energy systems primarily |
| solar powered air conditioners and the like they | | | | because the wind unlike the sun does not stop |
| make a fantastic energy generation system. | | | | generating energy when the earth slips into the |
| Solar thermal hot water systems which are also | | | | night. |