This is an interesting question because it highlights a couple of confusing ideas regarding solar in the minds of many people. Radiation from the sun is converted into useful energy in our homes in two fundamentally different ways.
The first way is sunlight to heat. A solar water heater converts solar energy directly into heat which then is stored in water until you are ready to use it. This is an efficient process and the most cost effective solar application on the market. At SolarWerks, we install and service solar water heaters for residential use.
The second way is sunlight to electricity. Solar electric or PV systems turn sunlight into electricity which then powers your lights and appliances. In some applications, these systems need batteries to store electricity harnessed in the day for use at night. In most homes these days, batteries are no longer necessary. The system can be tied into your electric utility meter to spin it backwards during the day. When you use power at night, you consume the electric credits you generated while at work during the day. This sort of system is attractive for homeowners with Real Time Pricing or Time of Use agreements with their electricity provider where they pay a much higher rate during the day than at night. SolarWerks is also a name that you can trust to implement a solid grid-tied solar PV system for your home.