A lot of people get excited about the idea of going solar, but aren’t completely sure what their options may be. There are many ways to tap into the sun’s energy, and in this post, we’re going to break down the key differences between two of the most common solar technologies:

1. solar thermal systems, which use sunlight to heat water;
2. and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which convert the sun’s energy into electricity.

These two solar technologies are not only different in how they use the sun’s energy and the output they produce (hot water vs. electricity), but they also differ in appearance, cost, payback, and installation. We’re asked about this all the time over the phone and in client meetings, so we figured we’d take a few minutes to answer it here for a wider audience. We’ve also included some photos and a drawing as a visual aid, so be sure to scroll down toward the end of the post. (more…)