Henry Dover answers:

I doubt that you are going to want to learn how to dope your own silicon wafers, add contacts and laminate them into PV panels.  I also doubt that you’re going to even want the various chemicals to make e.g. Cadmium-based cells anywhere near your house (cadmium is a very toxic metal).  In other words, making your own solar panels is not an at-home project.

You can buy solar panels based on cells of several different types.  A link to a Pricewatch-like website for current prices on solar panels is below.  Mounting panels to roofs or pole mounts, running conduit and wires, and installing battery banks and inverters are within the capabilities of skilled laypeople.

More data at the links.

Edit:  I am reporting all of Agua-Luna’s cut-and-paste pieces as spam.  I encourage others to do likewise.

Henry Dover answers:

Easier to buy the solar panels than to build them.
Unless you have a silicone crystal cutting machine?

Solar panel, inverter, batteries, charge controller, and lots of patience are all part of
building a system for the home

Henry Dover answers:

If you haven’t built your home yet yes, theoretically you can do geothermal, but takes a LOT of space & you need a geoteck study to see if its viable where your home is. Never seen it in residential. Go solar.

Henry Dover answers:

First, you want to use passive solar energy. For this simply use concrete floors install large south faceing windows (if your in the northern hemesphere) and plant diciduouse trees (trees that loose thier leaves in winter) on the south side of your property and coniferouse trees on the north side. In summer the trees will grow on the south and north sides of your house providing shade and cooling your house. In winter the trees on the south will loose thier leaves allowing sunlight to enter the large south windows. The concrete floor will stor the heat warming your house, while the coniferouse trees block wind also warming your house. Just the trees allown can save you from 10-50% on energy bills for heating and cooling. Also you can use solar panels with batteries attatched. This will provide most of the electricity for your house. And if you produce extra energy it can be sold back to the power companies. Also small wind turbines can be installed to provide aditional power.

Henry Dover answers:

First and foremost, I would try to work things out directly with my neighbor before going to an outside authority. Being on good terms with the neighbors is beyond price.

Whether this is legal depends on your location. In most places, a permanent structure requires a permit. If these are solar electric panels, then they have a long life, and the structure would likely be considered permanent.

If the structure is sending a lot of glare or heat into your bedroom, you may have cause for complaint, no matter where you live.

If it’s simply an eyesore, then this really depends on where you live. In California, by state law the reasonable application of solar may not be restricted. Especially if the mobile home has a flat roof or one that isn’t oriented towards the sun, that structure could be considered reasonable, I think. In other places, laws vary.