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| So much is being said these days about 'going | | | | * Long-term Economics: After the first 5-10 |
| green' and renewable energy that its time to talk | | | | years, depending on your particular system |
| about the advantages and disadvantages of solar | | | | economics, most systems have paid for |
| power for your home. Solar is getting a lot of | | | | themselves in lowered utility bills or even credit |
| attention and it's well-earned. There is no greater | | | | from the utility. Most systems run for decades |
| source of cheap, clean, and abundant energy than | | | | needing very little additional money for |
| the sun. It's high time we harnessed that energy. | | | | maintenance. This means you will be producing |
| Of course there are some disadvantages to | | | | nearly free electricity for years to come. |
| installing solar on your home. Lets cover these | | | | * Reliability and Durability: Photovoltaics, after |
| first. | | | | careful initial testing, often last for 20-30 years |
| Disadvantages of Solar Power for your home: | | | | without problems. Some of the cells used in the |
| * Upfront Cost: The biggest problem with solar | | | | 1950's for the space program are still in use. And |
| energy is the initial cost of the system. Systems | | | | many people who bought into the first solar boom |
| can range anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 in | | | | in the 1970's are still using their panels to this day. |
| materials and labor costs, and many homeowners | | | | * The Fuel is Free and (Almost) Eternal: What |
| are simply not willing to put up that kind of | | | | other system on the planet can you think of is |
| money. But with the manufacturing costs coming | | | | going to provide humans with free energy for |
| down and fossil fuel prices going up (and up and | | | | millions of years? |
| up), the situation is changing rapidly in favor of | | | | * Little Pollution: The only pollution that is |
| solar. | | | | generated by solar panels is during their |
| * Availability of Sunlight: Your local climate and | | | | manufacturing process, and this has been greatly |
| weather patterns will greatly influence your ability | | | | reduced with technology advancements in the last |
| to generate power from the sun. Its worth taking | | | | decade. |
| to the time to look at the available sunlight, often | | | | * Quiet: Solar panels generate electricity silently, |
| called insolation, for your area before buying a | | | | as opposed to wind generators which can be |
| system. | | | | quite noisy in high wind. |
| * Energy Usage vs Availability: The greatest | | | | * Energy Independence: Systems can be set up |
| production of solar energy comes during the day, | | | | so that your home or office is unaffected by grid |
| obviously. The problem is that this is often the | | | | blackouts. And you can also rest well at night |
| time of lowest consumption for a typical home is | | | | knowing your not completely beholden to a large |
| during the day (usually because no one is home). | | | | corporation for your energy. |
| If this is the case storage becomes an issue, | | | | * Feeling Green: Whether or not you believe in |
| sometimes leading to expensive and | | | | global warming, there is virtually no data that |
| maintenance-intensive batteries. However, the | | | | would suggest burning coal and gas is good for us |
| greatest usage of electricity across the entire grid | | | | or the environment. Installing solar means you are |
| occurs during the day (cooling office buildings, | | | | investing in a healthy community and planet for |
| running factories, lighting warehouses, etc.). This | | | | generations. And knowing that you are doing your |
| means the utility has an incentive to encourage | | | | part is worth as much as any credit on your |
| day-time production, meaning they may pay you | | | | power bill. |
| more for your daytime electricity if you are | | | | * Tax Incentives: Each state and most utilities |
| connected to the grid. | | | | have incentives for homeowners to install these |
| * Consumption Efficiency: To get the most out of | | | | systems. They range from rebates, to power |
| your sun-powered system, you must decrease | | | | buy-back incentives, to tax credits. Also the |
| your consumption significantly. This can mean | | | | federal government recently lifted the cap on the |
| replacing appliances, lighting, and heating | | | | 30% tax credit for residential systems. This |
| air-conditioning systems, sometimes increasing | | | | means that if you spent $10,000 on a system, |
| initial costs. | | | | you would deduct $3,000 from the amount of |
| * Knowledge: Having a photovoltaic system is a | | | | taxes you owe for the year. |
| learning process for the owner, and means they | | | | * 'Peaceful' Materials: Solar panels are generally |
| must be more conscientious about their | | | | made in peaceful countries in Europe, North |
| consumption and production overall. | | | | America, and Asia. In other words, you don't have |
| Now let's get to the good stuff. Let's talk about | | | | to worry about your panel money going to |
| why you should have a photovoltaic system. | | | | support terrorist organizations or companies that |
| Advantages of powering your home with solar | | | | exploit their employees. |