Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Answers About Solar Power For The Home

Home solar power is easy to understand. Solar cells on the roof of a house turn sunlight into electricity or heat water. That electricity then goes into batteries or gets fed back into the meter. However, for some reason, people feel as if they have to understand the mechanics of the process to be able to make a decision concerning the technology.

While it has only been in the last few decades that solar electric has come into home use, the first photovoltaic cells were invented before 1900. That is more than a century to get it right. So, the technology is not now by any means.

The break down in that line of thinking is that most people on the street are no more likely capable of building an electric generator than they are a solar panel. It is not really about the technology. The work of a solar installer is no more mysterious than the work of an electrician of a computer repair technician. The lack of understanding of the specifics of a computer doesn't seem to be an inhibition against owning one.

Putting those aside, the real issues remain. Consumers are mainly concerned with issues of cost and benefit. Also, They Want To Know How The experience of have solar will be different.

There are a number of green incentives and tax rebates for those who install home solar. However, these come after the fact. To install solar, the homeowner will initially have to pay out between fifteen and thirty five thousand dollars. Of course, like any large home improvement, their are financing options, either with a bank or sometimes with the solar installation company.

Having solar does change the nature of roof maintenance. Fixing a roof leak suddenly becomes more involved when the solar array has to be worked around. Water heating solar can freeze in cold winters without anti-freeze, and battery backup systems need periodic inspection. Most larger issues are handled by the standard twenty five year warranty.

When a solar installer comes out to quote the business, they can also provide estimates of how long it will take to pay for itself. After that, it's free electricity. With a system guaranteed for twenty five years, there is a long time frame to reap those rewards, and, with diminishing coal and oil supplies, it is unlikely that utility prices will ever decrease.

Home solar require a large initial dollar investment. The few added maintenance tasks are less involved than maintaining a hot tub. The system will usually pay for itself around seven to ten years, and it is guaranteed to last at least twenty five. After that, who knows what mankind will be using for power.

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