On-Grid: The energy produced via a residential renewable energy system both feeds off of and into the outside utility’s system.

In some cases battery banks are an optional component of your residential solar or wind power system, while in others they are necessary. In either case, the bank’s function is to store energy for later use. In an off-grid system, the battery is necessary because solar power is your only source of energy, and you don’t stop needing power when the sun goes down. Your system will collect excess solar energy while the sun shines and store it in a battery bank until you need to use it.
In an on-grid system battery banks may still be useful, because they will allow you to store solar energy for use when neither the sun, wind or your traditional power source is available -for instance, if there were a power outage at night.

Pennsylvania energy-buffs may have noticed the term ‘net - metering’ being tossed around local news recently. In June 2006 the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the board that governs the creation and distribution of energy in the state, decided to allow net metering in an effort to join the other 39 states nationwide that already have such regulations.

Are you interested in installing an alternative energy system in your home, but can’t swallow the price of solar panels or wind turbines? Let the federal and state government help pay the bill! New tax credit laws have recently been passed by Congress and state legislatures, including Pennsylvania’s, which help corporate, business, private, non-profit and agriculture sectors, as well as homeowners, to pay for alternative energy systems. This is the government’s way of encouraging individuals and groups to save energy and money by utilizing the growing capabilities of energy systems that don’t depend on an outside power company. By creating your own power and either using it right away, storing it in a battery system, or selling it back to your electric company (see the article on Net Metering) you can keep tons-literally tons-of harmful pollutants from being released into the air, water and soil.