As fossil fuels continue to dwindle, alternate energy sources such as those from a solar panel are becoming increasingly popular and cost effective. Consider the use of solar panels for your home or business to help you cut electricity costs.

Solar panels will require a relatively substantial initial investment, but for some businesses, their use can cut their electricity bills dramatically.

To make the most of your solar panel search and investment:

1. Make a solar panels list of providers, and follow that up with a look at solar panel basics.

2. Create a comparison budget. Look at what your current electric bills, and theorize your potential bills after installing a sun panel system.

3. Contact the top few solar panel providers on your list to confirm your budget facts, and proceed with making a decision.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with general solar panels information

Find solar panels information on basics, installation, costs and more to begin your potential solar panel build or conversion.

I recommend: Purchase step by step instructions on making your own solar panels from Indiana's Green Network. Find out solar panel basics from Solar Panel Info.com. HowStuffWorks through Discovery Communications gives you even more in depth information. Do it yourselfers can also check out the Earth4Energy System.

Find solar panels from East Coast providers

Locate a wide number of solar panels retailers in the Northeast portion of the U.S. Stick with a provider on your side of the country to save on shipping costs.

I recommend: Check out the complete solar systems from Silicon Solar out of New York. They also have a west coast sales office as well. Online Solar out of Hunt Valley, Maryland offers pre-packaged home, commercial, industrial and RV solar power system kits. Set up an appointment to visit Alternative Energy Store in Hudson, Massachusetts. They sell a wide variety of solar panel items. Evergreen Solar offers solutions out of Marlboro, Massachusetts.

Locate a West Coast solar panels provider

Find solar panels to power or heat your home, office or RV from a West Coast location.

I recommend: Check out the solar panel selection at Contact SolarHome.org, located out of Salt Lake City. You can even purchase entire kits from them. Buy panels or complete systems from Wholesale Solar out of Mt Shasta, California. Buy solar panels by the pallet for greater savings from Affordable Solar Group out of Albuquerque. Look at the solar panel solutions from Solatron Technologies out of Victorville, California.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Taking advantage of Solar Panels can be great for home or office, but you can also use them to heat your pools as well. After the initial investment, this can be cost effective for hotels and other guest service locations that offer pool locations.