People often operate under the assumption that solar power is only worth capturing for those who live in the desert, where sunlight is abundant year round. This is a common misconception as most places in the United States get plenty of sunlight – certainly enough to justify the use of a solar power system. Even if the home is primarily dependent on a typical power grid, there’s no need to cut ties completely.

Solar power kits can actually be used in tandem with regular power supplies from local utility companies. Grid-tied residential solar kits allow the user to harness energy from the sun and convert it into viable AC power. Then, if the home requires more power to function normally, the extra power is drawn from the grid. Homeowners can use a net meter to keep track of how much electricity is being used and fed back to the grid.