Clean Diesel

The initial expense of a solar energy installation is one of its primary deterrents. For the average American today, the traditional fossil fuel home energy system is less expensive to purchase than a solar home energy system. A solar energy installation, however, has a bigger picture to consider:

1. Using the sun’s energy by capturing it and using it in solar panels will help your home value appreciate.

2. Your solar home energy system will be paid for in about half its lifetime (25-30 years average lifetime).

3. You are installing a clean, non-polluting system that, since there are no moving parts to break or replace, will be either low maintenance or maintenance-free.

4. Your local electric company will probably buy your excess energy if you generate more power than you need.

5. Government sponsored rebates and incentives are available that you may be qualified for.

There’s been a remarkable trend in construction toward using as many renewable resources, including solar energy, as possible, according to the latest home building indicators. This trend will not only result in increasing the value for “green” homes, it will also result in price decreases for solar energy and other environmentally-friendly construction supplies.

If you’ve decided you really want solar energy when building or remodeling your home, but can’t convince yourself you can afford it…at least the initial installation cost…consider installing the system yourself. Solar panels installed by a contractor is much more expensive…bids are coming in that are 10 times or greater more than what you would pay if you did your own installation. There’s no rocket science involved in solar energy construction or installation. Basically, you have a specially constructed solar panel (a box, PV or photovoltaic cells, wire, soldering iron, connections, a cover made of tempered or plexiglass and silicone or other sealant), that captures the sunlight’s energy to activate the electrons on the PV cells. When those electrons move, and then are directed through your panel, they create an electrical chain. That goes through a charge controller in the form of a DC charge. Then, the charge gets either run through an inverter to transform it into 110 volt AC current, or it gets captured in a deep cycle storage battery. There are many DIY models on the Internet with tips, tricks, and instructions. Some are free and some charge a small amount. Look at Earth4Energy to find a clear instruction for a very reasonable amount.

Using passive solar energy, however, is an easy way to cut your energy costs. Look at the best ways to use solar energy, directing sunlight to your home’s windows, floors and walls, so you can distribute the heat throughout the winter, and reject it during the summer. No panels, electrical or mechanical devices are involved in passive solar energy. However, there are five elements of passive solar design that you need to succeed. Those five include your collector (area, generally glass, where sunlight comes into your building), absorber (dark, hard surface where sunlight hits and is absorbed as heat), thermal mass (this is the material below or behind the absorber), distribution (how solar heat is circulated), and control (roof overhangs, differential thermostats, awnings and blinds.)

You can save money using solar energy, passive or active, or a combination of both. Your immediate, up-front cost may be greater… although you can reduce that cost significantly by doing your own installation…but when you consider the cost of energy usage over time (particularly with other energy costs constantly rising), solar energy will save you money on your utility bills while saving the planet from escalating environmental damage.

States CEO and President Rhone Resch, Solar Energy Industries Association, on Earth Day 2010: “Today we need to take action to accelerate the deployment of solar. If you are a homeowner or business owner, consider putting solar on your property or buying clean energy through your utility. And if you are a policymaker, consider incentives, like extending the federal Treasury Grant Program, that are working to stimulate more investment in solar.”

Whatever each of us does, be it large or small, that encourages and supports solar energy development, generations to come will benefit from the difference.

Looking to find out all you can about solar power costs, then visit www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com to find the best advice on home solar power for you.