Solar energy units are becoming a good and an increasingly attractive source of renewable energy for the home. This could be attributed to three main causes; namely, the ever growing costs of conventional energy, the falling costs of improved solar panels for homes as well as incentives offered by governments that make solar energy a good choice.
In the United States, more than 10 thousand homes and businesses are powered solely by solar systems. On top of that, several hundred thousand homes and businesses use solar energy units for their energy requirements. That results in substantial savings on electricity bills. Respectively, the use of conventional resources (fossil fuels, etc.) is decreased, which results in less environmental pollution.
The installation costs for a home of a typical family can be $18-20 K if carried out by a professional contractor. Such high costs prevent families from using solar energy units. However one can save on installation through tax credits and state rebates. Besides, if you do it yourself, the cost would be only about 30 % before tax credits and rebates.
You can have a couple of choices: a stand-alone unit that requires battery or a grid-intertied unit.
A worthwhile improvement to your house would be to convert to grid-intertied solar energy unit. Planning ahead is the main prerequisite of successful conversion.
First, calculate the amount of energy you will need based on historical consumption data. You need to choose the right size of your solar energy unit. An oversize energy unit will generate more energy which you could send to the power company, but you can only get credit and not cash for it.
Next, determine whether your house is suitable for a solar system. The factors to be considered are as follows: available space, house location and climatic conditions. A rule of thumb for estimating required roof space is 80 to 100 sq. ft. per kilowatt. A house should face south for the solar panel system to be efficient, and should be free of objects that may obstruct sunlight.
Though it is possible to install the solar panel units on poles, solar panel systems are as a rule mounted on the roof. Using steel bolts, the mounts are attached to roof rafters. The panels are then installed on the frames.
Solar panel kits are readily available in the market. There are suppliers that offer their panels on the Internet, but it is not recommended to buy from them unless you have experience with installing them.
Typical set of hardware you will need for a batteryless grid-intertied system consists of: solar panel units, power inverter, power meter, roof mounts, a couple of heavy duty safety switches, wires and cable trays. A DIY kit for a 1-kW system would cost a little over $3,000.
If you don’t have prior experience in this area, you are to choose a respectable vendor who is known for outstanding service. It is prudent to purchase DIY kits with an installation manual that at least has an adequate number of illustrations. The vendor should preferably have contact telephone number, and much better, could send a representative in case you run into a problem with installation. Alternatively if you are a lucky guy and have a friend or acquaintance who has experience with installing home solar energy units, then ask him to assist you in the purchase of the hardware as well as in the installation.
Many individuals have shown that renewable energy can save you money and the environment. With the variety of improved, inexpensive solar panels for homes and businesses, solar electricity is the best option for most of us, so start that home improvement project: install a solar panel system for your home.
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