| What's the real truth behind all those ads? | | | | Larger reductions can be obtained easily of course, |
| Just searching around online for information about solar | | | | simply by installing a larger solar panel system right |
| power, solar energy, and installing solar panels on your | | | | from the start. Not everyone can afford that large initial |
| own home, you've probably run across many claims | | | | investment though, so they go with a starter system |
| which say you can earn money from solar power. So | | | | instead. |
| is it true? Yes... sort of. | | | | 2. Over time the family may add to their home solar |
| You see, it's not nearly as cut and dry as many | | | | panel array. As you add solar panels, you continue |
| advertisements would lead you to believe. There is a | | | | taking more of the load off of public electricity needs. |
| process involved, and for most people it requires | | | | This of course continues lowering your electricity bills. |
| extensive investments before you can actually start | | | | 3. If the family continues investing in additional solar |
| "making money" from the solar power you're | | | | panels over time, they will eventually reach the point |
| generating. | | | | where they are providing 100% of their own home's |
| It's becoming a well known fact that installing solar | | | | electricity needs. This is when the public electric bill is |
| panels on your home can drastically reduce your | | | | hopefully at $0.00 per month year round. |
| electricity bills. In fact, if you install enough of them, you | | | | At that point, if the family wants to start "earning |
| can eliminate your monthly electric bill entirely. And if | | | | money" from their solar power installation, they will |
| you happen to generate extra electricity... and you live | | | | need to reduce their own power consumption, install |
| in the appropriate place... you might be able to get | | | | more solar panels, or both. The only way they can |
| "paid" for the solar power you generate. | | | | earn money directly from this investment is to |
| The catch though, is that you have to be generating | | | | generate extra electrical power which can be sold |
| more power from your solar panels than you actually | | | | back to the public electric company. |
| use. | | | | Not all electric companies will actually "buy back" the |
| Most residential solar installations only provide part of | | | | power you generate either. In fact, most of them |
| the total household electric usage, because installing a | | | | simply give you energy credits which can be applied to |
| large enough solar panel system to cover the entire | | | | your existing utility bill. In most cases if you have no |
| load can cost upwards of $10,000. And even though | | | | electric bill to pay though, those credits can be cashed |
| building your own solar panels is much less expensive | | | | in a few times each year, for a partial part of their |
| at an average of about $200 per panel, many | | | | value. |
| standard size households in the United States need | | | | So before you decide to install solar panels as a way |
| 10-20 panels just to get close to covering their own | | | | to make money, evaluate your true situation first. |
| electricity usages each month. | | | | Figure out how much electricity your family uses on |
| Here's how the reality tends to work for most | | | | average, and use that figure to know how many solar |
| American families: | | | | panels you'll need to buy. Calculate that cost first and if |
| 1. They install a small, starter solar panel system that's | | | | you're still determined to try and make money from |
| relatively inexpensive. This system helps them reduce | | | | this venture, research your local laws. Also be sure to |
| their overall monthly electric bill, but in most cases the | | | | talk to your local power company so you'll know their |
| starter system only provides enough electricity to | | | | policies and restrictions before you invest more money |
| reduce the bills by 30%-50%. | | | | than you need to. |