I’ve been trying to research new energy sources for my house including solar, wind, and human powered pedal options. Solar seems like the most commercialized now but if it works, why doesn’t everyone use it. A lot of companies like BP, Mitsubishi, and GE have websites advertizing solar but they don’t explain enough about cost and instalation. If anyone out there already uses this tech I’d appreciate some intel.
The reason people do not use it is because it is expensive. Most solar panels cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. What most people do not know is that there are tax credits that can be earned from using renewable energy sources. These credits can help pay for some of the cost of the solar panels.
Another option is to build your own solar panels or wind turbine. It really only takes some initiative. Most people dismiss this option because it seems like only the scientists and engineers can build these seemingly magical sources of energy.
A little research reveals that all wind turbines are just spinning magnets with wire around them. The concept is elementary. As for solar panels, purchasing the silicon mixture (the blue metal) and attaching it to the other components is still cheaper than buying one already done, but like I said, it takes some initiative.
Another solar power option, is a solar water heater. It is a great way that is not complicated at all. It is simple: the heater uses the sun’s power to heat the water, with no gas or coal. Like the solar panels and wind turbine, a solar water heater can also be built for a lower cost.
I already use this technology. I decided to build my own solar panel and was successful. Now it works well, and it helps take some of the electricity cost away. I could not build the wind turbine though. My neighbors were not too happy with a large object obstructing their view. But if it works for you, go for it.
As for the solar water heater, that was also successful. It does not heat water during low light hours, but saves me some bucks during a sunny day. I suggest you go for it, but start at looking at Energy Star’s website on federal tax credits, or talk to your town/city about it.
4 responses to Does anyone know if solar power for homes is worth it?
It's very worth it! but it cost MILLIONS of dollars. Oh and it works very well but a lot of people can't afford it.
References :
Solar does work and it is reliable. Using a battery backup, you can have electricity day and night. With a grid-tie system, you can draw on utility power when you need it, and sell power back to the utility when you're generating excess. (The rules on grid-tie vary from state to state.) It requires virtually no maintenance.
The downside is, there's a sizable up-front cost. Our grid-tie system with battery backup cost about $16K for 1KW capacity. Most of that was for the battery backup and the inverter, so we could add more capacity for not too much additional money. The inverter changes the 24v DC power generated by the panels into 120v AC power, and the battery stores the power for when we need it. (We live at the edge of the grid, and power goes out frequently.) We received $4K in tax credits, so our net cost was $12K. Electricity is cheap here, so it will take the system close to 25 years to pay for itself– but we have reliable power, and it generates no CO2.
There are ways to lower the cost. If you skip the battery backup and just use grid-tie, that cuts out a lot of the cost. That way, you're using utility power at night but using (and selling back) solar power by day.
If you can skip the inverter and run your home on 12 or 24 volt DC power, that cuts out even more. But then you have to use RV-type appliances.
The question "Is it worth it" depends on several factors– the cost of electricity in your area versus the expected solar production, the reliability (and availability) of utility power, and how much your conscience bothers you about global warming. For us, it was a no-brainer despite the cost.
References :
Our own experience with a three-year-old solar generating system.
Depends on where you're at. In NJ we have so many incentives that I'm thinking of purchasing a 7kw system for about $50,000, after incentives it should run me somewhere in the $27,000 range, and payback time should be about 5 years, after that, I can expect about 25 years of free energy! I would imagine CA probably has even more aggressive incentives, and don't forget the federal incentives. Call some solar companies, and ask for some evaluations, they should also be able to explain what your payback period should be.
References :
The reason people do not use it is because it is expensive. Most solar panels cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. What most people do not know is that there are tax credits that can be earned from using renewable energy sources. These credits can help pay for some of the cost of the solar panels. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits
Another option is to build your own solar panels or wind turbine. It really only takes some initiative. Most people dismiss this option because it seems like only the scientists and engineers can build these seemingly magical sources of energy. A little research reveals that all wind turbines are just spinning magnets with wire around them. The concept is elementary. As for solar panels, purchasing the silicon mixture (the blue metal) and attaching it to the other components is still cheaper than buying one already done, but like I said, it takes some initiative. http://tiny.cc/solarandwind
Another solar power option, is a solar water heater. It is a great way that is not complicated at all. It is simple: the heater uses the sun's power to heat the water, with no gas or coal. Like the solar panels and wind turbine, a solar water heater can also be built for a lower cost. http://dwarfurl.com/c1222
I already use this technology. I decided to build my own solar panel and was successful. Now it works well, and it helps take some of the electricity cost away. I could not build the wind turbine though. My neighbors were not to happy with a large object obstructing their view. But if it works for you, go for it. As for the solar water heater, that was also successful. It does not heat water during low light hours, but saves me some bucks during a sunny day. I suggest you go for it, but start at looking at Energy Star's website on federal tax credits, or talk to your town/city about it.
References :
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits
http://pl-greenlife.blogspot.com/
http://tiny.cc/solarandwind
http://dwarfurl.com/c1222
Experience
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