Solar panels are mistakenly believed to be too expensive for the average homeowner. The truth is going solar is a lot more affordable than most would think. It's possible for homeowners to go completely solar and eliminate power bills as long as the home's roof is exposed to the south.
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200
Solar panels are a collection of photovoltaic cells that collect light energy (photons) to generate electricity. Traditional solar panels are heavy and a little bulky. New thin film technology has proven to be more effective and affordable than traditional solar panels, not only are they able to collect more energy but since they don't use as much silicon they cost less.
The federal government is currently giving tax credits for up to thirty percent the cost of installation for homeowners investing in alternative energy. Add that to individual state incentives and a lot of money can be saved. Additionally if enough panels are installed to cover all of the home's energy needs there will often be excess energy that can be sold back to the power company via net metering.
In order to determine the number of panels needed the homeowner will have to inquire about their daily energy consumption during peak days. The solar panels will need 100 square feet of roof space per kilowatt to be produced. It is estimated by next year (2010) that solar panels will be purchased for as low as one dollar per watt.
Solar energy systems have no moving parts and once they are installed they are virtually maintenance free. Along with the panels, mounts, wiring and an inverter will need to be purchased. The mounts hold the panels off the roof by a few inches to allow for air flow and the inverter is needed to convert the electricity from DC to AC.
When night falls the home can still benefit from solar power; there are two ways for this to happen. The first way is an energy storage system- a battery. The large battery collects excess energy for use on cloudy days and at night. The other option is to take advantage of net metering. When the panels create excess energy the energy can be sent back into the power grid and the home is credited for the energy, then when it's needed the home can draw power from the traditional power grid making use of the credits the home has earned.
Smart homeowners can search for do-it-yourself kits online. With basic home improvement skills many homeowners will be surprised how easy installing their own system can be. For those who are intimidated by the prospect of putting in their own systems professional installers can make the process painless. Expect to pay more for their expertise however.
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200
Do-it-yourself solar panel kits are a great way to save money and to ensure the system is set up to the homeowner's specifications. The kits can be installed with relative ease as long as the person installing it has basic handy man skills. Online reference tools can aid if there is any confusion. Some rebate programs require that a system be set up by a professional however, so make sure to check your local regulations before deciding to do it yourself.
Even if all of the home's energy demands aren't met, installing even just a few solar panels will save on utility bills.
Small supplemental energy systems can be made using the lower wattage solar panels sold for RV and marine applications. If a homeowner could not afford to invest in a large system all at once, gradually adding small panels as they can afford can slowly build a system worth noting.
With nation's energy crisis looming over all of us it's important that homeowners step up to the plate and do their part. The movement towards renewable energy won't happen overnight but if everyone can strive to make little changes the differences will add up. Not only can the strain on the environment be eased but so will the strain on homeowner's wallets due to energy costs.
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200
Best Residential Solar Energy Systems and other Related Resources:
Magniwork Magnetic Energy Generator - How would you like to create a generator which creates free electric energy? Using our easy-to-follow guide, you will be able create a Magnetic Power Generator which creates absolutely free energy, and doesn’t require any resource like wind or solar energy to function, the magniwork generator creates energy by itself and powers your home for free. The generator works fully off the grid.
GreenDIYEnergy is a guide on how to start generating your own green energy at home. Developed by Ultimate Results, LLC, GreenDIYEnergy's page promises to give users a step-by-step video and manual on building and installing their own personal solar panels. GreenDIYEnergy's site also gives users a snek peek at the video that shows them how to buld and install their own solar panels.
Homemade Energy is fast becoming the buzz word in environmental circles. Consumers are becoming fed up with the problems associated with using conventional energy resources. Tired of rising costs, changing our lifestyle and in some cases being subjected to rationing, many home owners are turning to the newest trend in energy conservation DIY Solar Power Kits. A number of companies are now producing homemade energy guides, available for instant download on the internet, which give you step by step instructions on how to assemble the materials for your own DIY solar power kits.
