So you've decided that solar energy is the wave of the future, and you want to get on board. Solar energy is a free resource, readily available to those with determination and ingenuity. It will save you money on your electric bills. As a user of solar energy you'll gain a sense of freedom and connectedness with planet earth. Learn how to make a solar panel for your home.

How do you learn about solar power?

One way to learn is by reading and research. Check out Wikipedia. Study magazine articles. Go to your nearest public library and ask your reference librarian to point you to library books on solar energy. Those are excellent ways to familiarize yourself with the concepts of solar power.

But the best way to learn is by doing. By doing it yourself -- not only will you learn concepts and principles - you'll demonstrate for yourself how these principles and concept work in a practical application. You'll see how solar energy can save money on your electric bills and can power small electric appliances around your house.

You'll learn whether your solar power is right for your home - whether solar and shade conditions on your property are favorable for a larger scale solar power installation.

As you work on your solar panel you can review related science principles. If you have kids at home, your project can help them learn about properties of conductors, semi-conductors and insulators. It will help them understand how solar cells produce electricity.

How do you learn how to build a solar panel at home?