Knowing the categories will help you determine if it is wise to pick a certain system or not. Here is some more info. The First Category The first way to view solar energy will depend on how the energy is transformed into useful energy. There are a couple of types in this category - passive solar energy and active solar energy. Orientation refers to the positioning of the home so that you get most of the sun's rays to heat and minimize the impact for cooling. Shading is vital in managing the natural light and temperature of the home. Shade can be given by other structural elements. Insulation refers to keeping a warm home during the winter and a cool house during the summer. The enhanced intensity of the sunlight over the atmosphere also tends to boost the generation efficiency. About Solar Energy Solar energy, heat and radiant light that emanates from the sun have been controlled by humans beginning the ancient periods using a wide range of evolving technologies. Solar radiation, together with secondary solar-powered resources like biomass, wind, wave and hydroelectricity are accountable for majority of the available renewable energy on Earth. Discovery Of Solar Energy Cells Solar energy cells, also known as PV cells, are actually created when three Americans discovered that building transistors with silicon. This was during the 1950 s. PV cells weren t actually an affordable solar energy source back then, however, due to its practical use in the satellite industry, the solar energy cell industry became sustainable. The primary principle that people need to know more about include solar home heating, which involves getting solar energy and transforming it into heat. You will better appreciate solar heating systems and solar energy as a whole by knowing how the process works. Here is some more info. About the Collectors A solar energy collector gets the radiant energy from the sun to be converted into heat. Buying Solar Panels There are plenty of places where you can buy the best solar panel models. You can choose between brands such as Sharp, BP Solar and General Electric. You should visit some of the manufacturer web sites to determine the process and the ways how their solar panels are built. You should also read about the background of the company and what their objectives are in making these pieces.