There is growing concern at the prospect of global warming and the resulting climate change which could have catastrophic effects on the planet. Solar panels are a very green way to generate power from the sun's energy and more and more people are waking up to the idea of saving money and saving the planet by installing solar panels on the roofs of their houses.

One reason that some people don't like the idea of installing solar panels on their roofs is their appearance. However you can always fit solar tiles which look like roof tiles and can blend in and seem less conspicuous. The downside is that they are more expensive and require a specialist who can fit solar tiles as they have to be integrated with the regular roof tiles.

Another reason that many people have been put off by installing solar panels is the initial cost. However over time providing that you get a sufficient number of sunny days you will find that you start to save money and start to get lower electricity bills from your power company.

Fortunately, there have been great advances in the past few years and so it is possible to have solar energy on a budget. With new advances in manufacture and design, solar panels are now within the reach of almost everyone. It's possible to get panels now that are smaller and thinner and so don't stand out so much.

It's also possible to build your own solar panels using materials bought from your local diy store. There are a growing number of guides available on the internet to help you and many of these can be followed by complete novices.

Solar panels can also be added to an electrical system after the home has been in place for many years. It's a simple process to hook a home's existing electrical lines into a new system. You will need someone with a certain amount of expertise, but the hook up itself is not costly. Also, most electric companies allow you to sell excess electricity back to them.

Solar power is free and doesn't create harmful green house gasses. Scientists have now predicted that by 2080 unless we do something to slow down global warming the earth's temperature will have risen by several degrees. This could mean more severe winter storms, and tropical summer temperatures in Southern Britain, as well as rising sea levels.

Of course the more solar cells in a panel the more electricity you can generate. Just imagine being able to run your tv or laptop from your own solar panel.