| Most of us have heard about solar energy and how | | | | how to build one for less than $200, which is much less |
| great it can be to use to save you money but how | | | | than buying commercially made ones. If you were to |
| good are solar panels? How effective are they in | | | | build 20 solar panels your average cost would be only |
| saving you money versus the cost to install and set | | | | $4,000 and you would recover your initial set up costs |
| them up on your home? | | | | (using the average savings above) in 2 years and 7 |
| The two most common barriers to using solar power | | | | months. |
| in your home is the initial set up costs and the | | | | The most efficient solar panel you can buy is only |
| inefficiency of the panels themselves. | | | | 40% efficient, meaning that out of all the suns energy |
| To have a professional come to your home and do | | | | you capture only 40% of it is being used to make |
| everything for you, including buying and the installing | | | | power you can use and the rest is lost in the |
| your solar energy system, can cost up to $20,000 for | | | | conversion process. But improvements are being |
| the average home. If your average electric bill was | | | | made every day in making them more efficient. Just |
| $200 a month and you saved an average of $125 a | | | | ten years ago they were only able to make them 15% |
| month using your solar power system it would take an | | | | - 20% efficient. Most environmental scientists are |
| average of 13 years and 3 months to recoup your | | | | working on making them cheaper so they are more |
| initial set up costs. | | | | accessible and affordable so you can use more of |
| When you consider that you will drastically reduce or | | | | them for less money but some scientists are still |
| even eliminate your electric bill this is not a high amount | | | | working on making higher efficiency solar systems and |
| but for the average homeowner it's too expensive to | | | | they are having some success. Soon they will make |
| consider a serious option. The most common | | | | another breakthrough and make this technology more |
| alternative is build your own solar panels using an | | | | easy accessible for us all. |
| instruction guide. Most popular guides will teach you | | | | |