Years of electricity by burning fossil fuels has greatly damaged the environment within the last several years. Every country in the world today knows the harmful consequences of global warming, and governments are accelerating the campaigns to minimize its effects in the world. Among countless such projects is the recommendation of solar power systems that reduce emission of dangerous gases and deliver a cleaner kind of electricity. To boost use of this renewable power source, governments of developed countries like the United States, UK, France, Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan etc are establishing subsidies and tax advantages to individuals who install solar electricity systems in their homes and offices.

Optimal Use of Solar Power in Maryland

Solar energy is rapidly becoming a popular source of renewable energy in the U.S., particularly in the state of Maryland. To beat the soaring costs of electricity generated by fossil fuels and nuclear plants, the state of Maryland has taken initiative to make the most of the abundant solar energy. In accordance with a report, the amount of solar energy produced in the state has raised from 100 kilowatts in the year 2006 to 15 megawatts today, which is a whopping 15,000 percent increase in just five years.

Ian Hames, the spokesperson for Maryland Energy Administration, outlined the process of solar energy generation, explaining how the solar panels, which are an integral part of the solar power setup, collect energy through the sun’s rays and convert it into electricity. This is then converted to a current that is used to operate appliances at homes and office buildings. For this purpose, the panels must be installed either on roof tops or on the ground, and should preferably be exposed southwards for optimum utilization of sunlight available throughout the day.

Estimating Solar Power Costs

You can decrease your energy costs to a great extent when you switch to a solar power system. With most solar providers providing clear-cut quotes of your solar energy costs, it's very easy to establish precisely how much you'd be saving on your future energy bills. By looking at factors such as the size and alignment of the roof, how much sunlight that the site is exposed to, along with your present electricity bills, you can get a clear idea of just how much you have to invest in installation and how much you will be saving on energy in the future. On top of that, the state of Maryland also provides a Residential Clean Energy Grant Program and a Commercial Clean Energy Grant Program, in which home and business owners are given financial aid for implementing solar power systems at their premises.

Taking into account the savings, the government initiatives and also the positive effect on the environment, usage of solar power can be a fantastic way to reduce costs as well as do your bit for the earth. With fossil fuel prices escalating constantly, soon there will be no other option anyway. In this context, the action by the state of Maryland is one that other states should learn from.