Every day the news is dominated by stories of global warming and climate change. The effects of environmental change are being felt across the world and it is time to stop and ask ourselves what we can do to help contribute towards protecting the environment.

One of the many ways in which it is possible for ordinary people to have a positive impact on the environment is through the installation of solar pv panels within their homes. These are panels which contain solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and these cells generate electrical power by converting solar radiation into electricity.

The sun is a renewable energy source and its resulting solar power is clean and sustainable not to mention extremely efficient. Compare this to the power created by fossil fuels which pump out carbon dioxide leading to climate change.

Domestically solar panels have been costly to install in the past. However as the technology has developed it has also become more readily available and more economically affordable. In fact it is possible not only to reduce your home energy bills with solar panels but also receive payments for contributing power to the national grid.

Solar panels can be mounted onto the roof of a home or even the walls. They are most beneficial when placed on a south-facing roof as this will receive the most sunshine. Of course this does bring up the age-old criticism of solar power as a viable energy source in the UK – the absence of sunshine for much of the year. This is indeed a reason why solar power has not been as successful in the UK as other countries such as Australia. However it is still a viable energy source which is both free and renewable. Therefore attempts to harness its power should be welcomed.