Solar Energy Systems: How They Work. The sun is already expelling huge amounts of energy. Why not put it to work in your own home? With the Lennox® SunSource® Energy System we have available at Kowalski Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in McMurray, you can cut down on your dependence on oil and gas and lower your utility bills. But how exactly does this happen? The easiest way to explain a solar energy system is that the system uses solar modules, which are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, to collect energy from the sun and convert it to electricity. This electricity is used to power light, appliances and electrical devices in your home. Grid-tied PV systems This is the most common and least expensive residential solar system. The SunSource Energy System we carry is grid-tied, which means it’s connected to your utility company’s power grid or power stations. Grid-tied allows you to use your solar energy system to power your home. On occasions when the system isn’t creating electricity, your home will be able to use power through the utility grid. In addition, when your system produces more electricity than you will use, it will be fed back into the grid through a process called net-metering. With net-metering, your meter spins forward if you’re using electricity from the grid and backward when you’re feeding electricity from your SunSource System back into the grid. *Note: Most rebates and incentives that make a solar energy system easier to afford are only available when your system is grid-tied. Stand-alone PV systems are also available for those in remote areas without utility service, but they’re considerably more expensive. A stand-alone system is not connected to a utility grid and provide for all of a home’s energy needs. Ready to go solar? Call Kowalski Heating, Cooling & Plumbing at 724-370-0141 or schedule an appointment online. We’re available to help with all your South Hills area area solar energy system needs.