| We have always considered solar energy as an | | | | comes to about $12 for each watt generated. A |
| energy source of the future. It is called a | | | | medium-sized energy efficient home will be |
| renewable source, as we have always had it, and | | | | suitably powered and running for around $25,000, |
| always in abundant supply. The only problem till | | | | whereas for a medium sized house, the cost |
| now was how to make full use of this awesome | | | | might go up as much as $50,000. |
| universal radiation source. | | | | It's actually really easy to build your own panels. |
| Now, with advances in solar panel technology, we | | | | All it takes are a few common tools, and |
| have come to a point where installing solar panels | | | | knowledge. There are also many state and |
| for everyday use is not only cheap, but also | | | | federal tax credits available in the US for projects |
| feasible space-wise for a large number of | | | | of this kind. The first thing you need to know is |
| households. Gone are the days where we used to | | | | how much electricity your house uses up on an |
| have huge assemblies and walls full of pipes! | | | | average. This information is best gained from |
| Those seem laughably old-fashioned now. Today's | | | | your electricity bill itself. You have to look for the |
| solar panels are compact systems which fit | | | | kWh figure which will give you a rough idea. You |
| comfortably in the smallest of spaces, while being | | | | can calculate your daily expenditure from this |
| very practical on the cost side. In this article, we'll | | | | figure. Like we said earlier, it costs around $9 per |
| roughly discuss the cost aspects of installing solar | | | | watt of electricity generated, so in this way one |
| panels practically. | | | | can calculate the cost of the installation and |
| When we talk about the cost of solar panels, we | | | | deployment of a solar panel for a particular home. |
| basically talk about a couple of subsidiary costs. | | | | Taking all the above information into consideration, |
| These are firstly, how much does it cost to install | | | | one can very easily and successfully build one's |
| a panel, and secondly, how much a solar panel will | | | | own solar energy panel for personal use, and |
| cost to power a particular house. The tricky part | | | | minimize usage of conventional energy sources, |
| here will be whether the panels themselves will be | | | | thus contributing to conservation in one's own |
| readymade, or will be made at home. A single | | | | small way. |
| medium sized panel would cost about $900, which | | | | |