Thanks in part to major technological improvements in recent years, solar energy has become increasingly affordable and efficient. In fact, solar is the world’s fastest-growing energy source, with some estimates stating solar energy will cut our reliance on coal power in half by 2022. Soon we'll all be able to enjoy the benefits of solar-generated electricity.

Since the cost of solar energy has decreased drastically, homeowners across the U.S. are considering incorporating solar power into their homes. Currently, about 10 percent of all single-family homes in the U.S. utilize solar panels, and states like California are requiring new homes to be built with solar panels already incorporated.

As residential solar energy becomes an increasingly mainstream option, you may wonder “how does residential solar energy work?” To answer this and other common questions like “‘how much power does a residential solar system produce” and “benefits of solar power,” we created the animated visual below.