| Is it possible to create cheap solar power? | | | | good thing, right? |
| It's a question that crops up over and over. The short | | | | Science and technology are not my strong suit, I've |
| answer is yes: cheap solar power for the home is | | | | actually avoided any sort of scientific study for fifteen |
| attainable for the average person. I'm not going to say | | | | years. The last time I did any research into a technical |
| it doesn't take some time and effort, and anyone who | | | | subject was when I was in my high school chemistry |
| does is pulling your leg (at best), but you can do it with | | | | class! You could say I'm more of a liberal arts guy. |
| a bit of know-how. | | | | Let me tell you something that will hopefully have you |
| Solar Power Fact Versus Myth | | | | breathing a sigh of relief. |
| Solar energy has a reputation for being quite | | | | You can forget all about the technical aspects of solar |
| expensive (and it can be!) but with some research and | | | | energy! It doesn't really matter if you understand how it |
| knowledge about what it actually takes to build a solar | | | | works, as long as it's working for you. Do you know |
| energy system, anyone can buy the materials for very | | | | how your TV works? Probably not. Do you care? |
| little, especially when compared to a pre-fabricated | | | | Probably not! As long as you can watch your favorite |
| system. If you have the right instructions and have the | | | | shows then it doesn't make a difference. The same |
| courage to do it yourself, you can save literally | | | | goes for solar power. |
| thousands of dollars off of labor costs. Let's face it, no | | | | Let me explain... |
| matter what type of contractor you hire, labor is | | | | With a little bit of instruction from someone who |
| always the most expensive part of a project. | | | | knows what they're talking about you can build your |
| Solar Power is Too Technical For Me! | | | | own cheap solar power system and use it to |
| People are afraid to start their own homemade solar | | | | generate electricity for your home. Experts are happy |
| power project because it seems so technically | | | | to help through the publication of step-by-step manuals |
| challenging. I know I was. | | | | and their instruction can cost less than a family meal at |
| I saw words and terms like photovoltaic and | | | | a diner. It's true, but you have to know where to look. |
| intermittent power source when I first looked into the | | | | Allow me to let you in on a little secret. |
| subject. Intimidated doesn't begin to describe how I felt | | | | You can go out and buy all the materials you need at |
| but with time I came to a conclusion you might agree | | | | your local hardware store, and you can get everything |
| with. | | | | for less than $200. In fact, you might have some of the |
| Academics tend to describe simple concepts in a | | | | materials you need sitting in your garage right now. |
| confusing way! I'm sorry if I've offended any scientists | | | | Money isn't really the problem as far as I'm concerned... |
| reading this but us normal folks actually want to put | | | | what you're probably lacking is the knowledge to |
| your knowledge to practical use! That's got to be a | | | | actually go ahead and build your own system. |