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Do you have high home energy bills? Apart from the home bank mortgage, the next biggest household expense would be the amount of money we pay for electricity.

Many home owners are looking for ways to reduce their home power consumption. One solution is to use renewable energy such as solar. The fastest way to start enjoying the benefits of free energy from the sun is to use a solar power kit.

With so many solar power kits in the market, how would you know which one is right for you? When you are doing your shopping in a hardware store for a home solar energy system kit, consider the following 5 important factors.

1) The size of the solar panels - Make sure you get the dimension of the solar panels that comes with the kit.

Do you have enough space on the roof to house the solar module? Can the roof tiles support the extra weight? These are important structural factors which you have to know.

2) The power output - Do some initial calculation to figure out how much power you need. You have to decide how many electrical appliances you will be connecting to the solar energy system.

Based on that power needs (in watts), select the home solar gear that can meet your requirement.

3) Weather proof solar panel - Since the Photovoltaic (PV) cells are placed on the roof, they are exposed to sun, rain and even snow.

Make sure the solar panels have a strong design. Preferably, the frame should be made of durable aluminum and covered with tampered glass.

4) Long product warranty - The Return On Investment(ROI)for any residential solar power system can take years. Therefore, make sure the solar panels come with long product warranty. A product warranty of 20 - 25 years on the panels would do just fine.

5) Easy installation and maintenance free - Look for a solar kit what is easy to install and require minimal maintenance. The most maintenance it’ll need is cleaning the solar panels once a year.

Unless you are planning to engage a professional solar contractor to do the installation, get a kit that has all the parts and component for a Do It Yourself (DIY) setup.

About the Author:

Will Yap is a home renewable energy enthusiast and he writes about DIY solar homes on his blog. Are you looking for more information about residential solar power kit? If you are, go to www.diysolarhomes/blog to download a free copy of the "30 Solar and Wind Power For Homes" video e-book to help you get started.