| As the price of solar system equipment goes | | | | down dramatically, as new mass production |
| down, the feasibility of installing a home solar | | | | techniques are being used. As the cost of this |
| power system goes up. OK. Basic economics of | | | | component of creating solar powered electricity |
| supply and demand. | | | | reduces, and the availability increases, home solar |
| But...does it really make sense for you? | | | | power will become more feasible. |
| Whether you're getting ready to build, or just | | | | New innovations and applications are being rapidly |
| want to know if you can "go solar", here are | | | | developed. A recent Princeton study shows how |
| three factors you'll want to consider: | | | | engineers have developed a new technique that |
| 1. How much full sunlight per day do you get? | | | | "could slash the cost of solar panels." In an article |
| Experts call this the "insolation" factor. You can | | | | sited in nextbigfuture.com, researchers at |
| find out what the approximate insolation factor is | | | | Princeton state "By overcoming technical hurdles |
| for your site on a solar map created by the | | | | to producing plastics that are translucent, malleable |
| National Renewable Energy Laboratory. You'll also | | | | and able to conduct electricity, the researchers |
| need to know some additional site-specific | | | | have opened the door to broader use of the |
| factors...like sun blockage by trees, other buildings, | | | | materials in a wide range of electrical devices. |
| hillside or any other obstruction. | | | | Plastics could represent a low-cost alternative to |
| 2. Current electricity prices. To determine your | | | | indium tin oxide (ITO), an expensive conducting |
| payback time, knowing what you're currently | | | | material currently used in solar panels." |
| paying (or the average cost for homeowners in | | | | This and similar new developments may soon |
| that area)...per watt...for electricity can help you | | | | bring the cost of solar energy systems down |
| determine how long it will take you to pay for | | | | enough that it will be infeasible for homeowners... |
| solar power installation. Unless you plan to build the | | | | anywhere other than those designated with no or |
| solar system yourself, a big part of this equation | | | | extremely low insolation factors, to consider |
| is the length of time you plan to stay in this | | | | anything but a solar power system. |
| home. The longer you're in the home, the bigger | | | | Everett Sizemore, a consumer product review |
| the payback. | | | | expert for comparethebrands.com, says of the |
| 3. What rebates and tax incentives are available? | | | | feasibility of solar power: "Out of all of the |
| Maximizing federal and state incentives can really | | | | renewable energy alternatives we have today, |
| help offset the initial cost of installing a solar | | | | solar power is still the most feasible for the |
| power system. If you have a solar system | | | | majority of households in America. With federal, |
| installed professionally, you may be looking at $40 | | | | state, and local government incentives, the |
| to $60 thousand dollars for the average American | | | | lowering cost of solar panels and improved |
| home. Getting a rebate or tax credit of 10 to | | | | efficiency, going solar is cheaper than ever." |
| 60% can go a long way toward putting the initial | | | | In addition to individual home solar power |
| cost of installing solar more in parity with a | | | | systems, significant progress is being made in |
| standard system. | | | | ways to capture, store, and use solar energy in |
| Let's face it. If you live in an area, or on a site, | | | | power plants. One of the newest, and most |
| that really doesn't get enough direct sunlight to | | | | feasible designs uses a molten salt storage loop |
| generate much of a solar power system, it simply | | | | that enables power plants to store and generate |
| may not be worthwhile no matter how much you | | | | electricity as needed, even if there is no direct |
| want to do it. Fortunately, most of the United | | | | sunlight for fairly long periods. Similar to current |
| States gets adequate direct sunlight, excluding | | | | designs, power grids could be connected to |
| specific site constraints, to support a solar power | | | | supplement, support, and take advantage of the |
| system. If solar really doesn't work, though, look | | | | best solar opportunities within the grid system. |
| at all the other renewable energy possibilities. | | | | Home solar power is becoming increasingly |
| The cost of photovoltaic cells is beginning to come | | | | feasible...off...and on...the grid. |