Solar energy is rapidly gaining popularity day by day. According to Wikipedia, “Solar energy is the heat and light radiated from the Sun that powers Earth's climate and supports life. Solar technologies allow controlled use of this energy resource. Solar power is a synonym of solar energy or refers specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photovoltaics, concentrating solar thermal devices and various experimental technologies.

The controlled use of solar energy is an important consideration in building design. Thermal mass is used to conserve the heat that sunshine delivers to all buildings. Daylighting techniques optimize the use of light in buildings. Solar water heaters heat swimming pools and provide domestic hot water. In agriculture, greenhouses grow specialty crops and photovoltaic-powered pumps provide water for grazing animals. Evaporation ponds find applications in the commercial and industrial sectors where they are used to harvest salt and clean waste streams of contaminants.”

The solar energy is the renewable energy that is gaining grounds in United States. Many people are opting for solar energy panel to energize their homes. Due to the exceedingly high oil prices, many homes are facing high energy bills. To cope with this problem, solar energy panels the only solution that can provide ample energy for your home appliances.

Right now the solar power technology doesn’t provide enough energy to light up your home independently. It is a supplemental source of energy not a primary one. So you can buy a solar energy system that tie in with the grid to reduce your energy bills to 50%.

Recently, San Francisco’s city’s Board of Supervisors recently voted to launch a citywide cash incentive program for solar panel power generation. This has made California the first state to encourage solar panels on rooftops. Currently it is the largest solar panel initiative in the nation.

The cash incentive program will greatly reduce the cost of the solar panels which means you get money back for installing solar systems to generate electricity.

An average solar system costs about $30,000 including installation. With maximum rebates available, San Francisco residents can get $6000 through the San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Program; $2000 for Federal energy tax credits and $4500 from the state’s California Solar Initiative.

That's a maximum total of $12,500 that can be rebated to San Francisco residents, leaving them on the hook for the remaining $17,500. To help lower costs more, a community movement in San Francisco, called One Block Off The Grid, is coordinating a group buying effort to cut costs. Also, a growing number of lenders offer special, low-interest loans for solar panel purchases and installation.  Rooftop solar panel installation also can be eligible for an Energy Efficient Mortgage.

Let the Sun Shine in and provide energy because a solar system can significantly increase the value of your home too.