Alternative Energy Forums

Is it possible to install solar panels as an additional source of energy for my home? I have a southern facing backyard that gets huge amounts of sunlight daily. I would really like to set something up so that I can start to use less energy from our current electricity provider.

Any opinions or assistance would be appreciated.

John

John, I am no expert on the subject, but here are some useful resources:

http://www.energyplanet.info/Solar_Energy/DIY/
http://www.energyplanet.info/Solar_Energy/Business/

John, ABSOLUTELY! And you would be doing the right thing. Depending where you are located will determine exactly how much electricity you can generate. Your system would pay for itself in as little as 5 years.

Fred

Hi John,

Yes, solar panel definitely is a huge source of energy gradually replacing electrical system in most cities especially those which received good amount of sun light.

You can find numerous service providers offering their service in various US cities, if you just type in 'Solar Panel Installers' or 'Solar Installers' in Google.com you will find a lot of them.

John-

This certainly can be done. A common misconception regarding solar and wind alternatives is that they are unreliable. In reality, provided your power cells are in good condition, photovoltaic cells capture sufficient energy to power your home around the clock.

True there is a cost upfront, but, the long term benefits far outweigh those costs. You would no longer be reliant upon a utility company, which may have power-outages due to a sub-station igniting on a hot day, or shorting out in a snow or rain storm.

If you can do it. Do it!

-G

Sure!! With tax incentives where they are now, it is a great time to invest in solar energy.

http://www.nrel.gov/rredc/
This is a great website to determine what size system you want to start out with. Most people want to grow a system over time. Make sure you plan accordingly so that you are not buying a new inverter each time you add additional solar modules.

Solar panels are great, just as long as you make sure you know what you're getting into. They can be expensive up front, but reap benefits in years to come. A great bet is to contact solar panel installers and grill them for information, and read everything you can get your hands on about this stuff, esp on forums like this where there are lots of people at different levels that you can learn from.

tonyb34

Here are some useful resources:

http://sinceseptember1981.blogspot.com/

Yes, it is definitely possible. You can set up a fantastic solar system that will help you reduce your electricity bills. For assistance you can refer to:
http://www.todae.com.au/SolarPanels/SolarPanels

Your floor solar tiles are actually lighter than the clay tiles, saving cost and impact during shipping, and the cost-savings for the homeowner are also pretty dramatic.

John,

I'll tell you that it is most definitely worth the investment. Everyone looks at this as an expense but it's so much more,
1. You have to look at it as the best investment for your home
2. You'll qualify to receive a Tax Credit worth 30 percent of the total cost of your new solar power grid.
3. With "Net-Metering", you can sell some of your produced energy back to your electric company in which you get a credit to your account. You might even get a check!
4. Your doing your part in conserving the environment too.

It's not something to think about, just get going and do it!

I think you are right rbuelna. But customers need to take their time and search for what they want at the best quality/price ratio.

Since the renewable energy industry is kind of young, there is a lot of false-sellers who don't even care of the environment and their customer's needs. All they want to do is money by selling cheap products at high prices.

We all need to be careful.

John--

Doing your homework and researching the project you're about to undertake is key. We work with clients every day that are not sure what they are looking for or how to go about utilizing the power of the sun to power their homes, businesses and agricultural applications.

Right now, the government (both state and Federal) are offering some very nice tax rebates to people that invest in renewable energy. Installing solar panels is the first step in helping to reduce our dependency on energy sources that can be expensive and taxing on the environment. I applaud your efforts.

Contact your local solar company or installer and have a talk with them.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Regards,

Robertson Howard
Innovative Solar Solutions