You want to install solar energy in your home or business, but you just don't know enough about the subject. It's a good idea to do some research before you ever contact a solar energy installer. Read on to find out the basics of solar energy use.If you maintain it well, the solar energy system you have installed will work correctly. Keeping the panels clean will help to ensure that you are harnessing the maximum amount of energy from the sun that you can. Have a professional inspect or clean your panels for you if you are not sure how to do it or need help with fixing minor issues.If you want to go solar partially, check out small-scale applications of solar power. There are a couple of ways you can achieve this. You could attach solar panels to your windows and use these to recharge smaller electronics. Camping equipment like lights and cooking gear can also be solar powered. Even small amounts of saving add up over time.You must determine a storage plan for the energy generated by your solar power system. The best way is purchasing a high-quality battery that stores lots of power for a lengthy time period. However, you can also sell your produced energy to the power grid. This will allow you to continue drawing your own energy from the grid.You need to find a backup solution you can use if your panels are not producing any power. Remaining connected to the main power grid is your best option but you could invest in a generator. If the generator is your solution, make sure you pull it out and make sure it is functional every so often.You can save a lot of money with solar energy if you don't mind the investment. Solar panels are costly and will take some time for them to be paid off and saving you money. Invest in solar conversion only when you are are prepared to stay at your current home.Sun tracking panels are the most efficient available. This system shifts the solar panels throughout the day so that your panels can absorb the maximum amount of energy. Although this system costs more upfront, it will pay for itself over time.In an effort to encourage citizens to use greener forms of energy, many governments agencies are offering rebates and tax credits for choosing solar energy. You could receive a rebate of around 30 percent. A quick online search should turn up information on these programs.Solar powered cars would greatly reduce the amount of carbon based pollutants, but technology has not quite perfected the concept yet. There are smaller machines that run on solar energy. One great solution in the event of a power outage is a generator powered by solar energy.When you use the education you've gained here, you'll find solar energy is within your grasp. With any luck, this article will have answered any questions you may have had and you are finally ready to begin. Renewable energy is a wonderful thing indeed.