| Can homemade solar panels save you money? Or is | | | | 3. Increased property equity. Homes with solar energy |
| it smarter to save your money and continue buying | | | | systems are worth more. This is a practical home |
| your electric from the utility company? The economic | | | | improvement project that adds value to your home. |
| recession we have been experiencing has driven | | | | Cons of homemade solar panels. |
| down the price of many items. Electricity unfortunately | | | | 1. Could be too large of a DIY project. While it sounds |
| has not dropped in price, it has increased. U.S. | | | | really good and the energy savings are real, building |
| residential electric rates continue to rise, averaging | | | | solar panels requires skills most people do not have. |
| nearly 12 cents per kilo watt with some areas of the | | | | The skills required are basic woodworking, soldiering |
| country at nearly 22 cents. | | | | and wiring which are teachable but will take practice |
| Will 2010 be the year you make the switch to solar | | | | for a complete novice. |
| power? The drop in worldwide demand for solar | | | | 2. Incomplete plans. Many of the DIY guides are vague |
| products has drastically reduced the price of solar | | | | and poorly written. Trying to build and install solar |
| system components. However, even with this price | | | | panels is detail intensive. Poor plans, like a poor recipe, |
| drop commercially installed solar power systems can | | | | can ruin the project. |
| cost over $20,000. Have you considered the pros and | | | | If you decide that going solar is for you and want to |
| cons of making your own solar panels? | | | | save on construction and installation costs you must |
| Pros of homemade solar panels. | | | | have a good, complete set of plans. Make sure that |
| 1. Cost. A manufactured panel, depending on size, can | | | | the plans you select are written by solar energy |
| cost as much as $800-1000. In contrast, you can build | | | | experts. Too many of the do it your self plans being |
| a quality solar panel for less that $200. Saving | | | | sold on the Internet were written by hobbyists and do |
| $600-800 per panel really adds up when you consider | | | | not go into enough detail. |
| the average home will need 10-15 panels to go off the | | | | Detailed plans should show you how to compute your |
| utility grid. | | | | electrical needs and suggest ways in which you can |
| 2. Controlled electric costs. While your neighbors will | | | | reduce your usage. They should go into detail about |
| suffer through repeated utility rate increases, your | | | | every thing needed. Finally, they should be written in an |
| homemade solar panels will generate "free electricity" | | | | easy to follow and understand language. |
| for the next 20-25 years. | | | | |