[horselover]

That's got to be the best idea.  As long as it doesn't take to much energy to do so.  It almsot sounds like it's magnetized and the sun is the magnet.

[Matc]

The tracking systems are actually really simple. One type just changes the angle at a set rate following where the sun will be in the sky. Smarter systems measure light levels and point to where most of the light is coming from regardless of where the sun is (good on cloudy days.)

[horselover]

Ah, a smart system. Very good. It's amazing the technology that people come up with. Some people are very smart. ;D

[duffystar]

also before you are considering investing in solar panels, it makes sense to first invest in some simpler (and cheaper) improvements to increase your home's energy efficiency, like insulation. While solar panels might not be practical for everyone, almost all of us can weather strip our windows and doors!!

[horselover]

I wish I had managaed to have found better weather stripping last winter, but I went with come cheap stuff and it did nothing to keep our place warm. Did nothing for the bills either.

[GreenGeek]

When I met Bill Kemp last year in Toronto, he showed us slides of his home near Ottawa. He has a sun-tracking solar panel, I believe he said he uses a big brush to clear snow off of it. He has enough battery capacity to last several days however, so it's not an emergency if he can't get out to brush off the panel one day.

[Matc]

Certainly one way to do it! And good exercise as well We don't really have that problem in most parts of the UK.

[GreenGeek]

In the case of the solar power system, having the increased storage capacity also addresses other issues beyond snow; it accounts for extended cloudy days and also temporary increased electrical demands.

[horselover]

And that's a very good thing. Very important to think about.