| "body"> | | | | and which ones are your biggest energy drainers, and |
| In rural areas particularly, the cost of drawing from the | | | | therefore a more accurate clue about your ultimate |
| nearest power grid far exceeds the cost of solar | | | | cost of solar power. |
| panel power, and the gap is increasing fast. And more | | | | Once you feel you've compiled a reasonable list of |
| and more many households in all sorts of areas - rural, | | | | electrical items you'd like to power with solar energy |
| suburban, and urban alike - are turning to home solar | | | | each day, calculate the cumulative wattage you'd use |
| panel system as a source of backup power in case | | | | for all of them over a period of 24 hours. Now you |
| of a blackout or other emergency. | | | | can figure out how many solar panels, and thus the |
| The cost of solar panel power per kilowatt hour is | | | | estimated cost of solar panel, you'll need. |
| admittedly not the absolute cheapest of renewable | | | | Now if you currently live in a home that is not |
| energies - at around $0.55 per kWh as compared with | | | | connected to any power grid, and you're trying to |
| $0.05 for wind or $0.06 for micro-hydroelectric, for | | | | figure out the cost effectiveness of your energy |
| example - but it's still markedly cheaper than paying | | | | options, then consider what we'll call "the half-mile rule". |
| the power company (especially with rate increases as | | | | If the power company has to install more than a |
| much as 10% per year), providing of course - and | | | | half-mile of equipment to get power out to your home, |
| here's the key: that you do it right. | | | | then the cost of solar panel power (or wind or hydro, |
| If you're considering installing solar power in your home, | | | | for that matter) is cheaper straightaway. |
| then first things first: keep in mind that if you're planning | | | | If it's less than a half-mile for them to bring the power |
| for solar power to provide for all your home's energy | | | | out to you, however, then it may be worth getting on |
| needs, the cost of solar panel may take a significant | | | | the grid. Of course, again, after a few years of rate |
| up-front investment. | | | | hikes you may wish you'd paid that cost of solar panel |
| With the cost of solar panel alone at $275-$600 for | | | | system after all. If, however, you do decide to connect |
| each one, and each solar panel providing somewhere | | | | to the power grid, remember that you can still install a |
| between 50 and 200 watts of power per day | | | | smaller solar panel system anyway, one to act as a |
| (depending on a variety of factors) it's not always | | | | backup and provide you with supplemental energy. |
| cost-effective to plan to power your entire home | | | | And that cost of solar panel system, obviously, will be |
| exclusively with a home solar panel system. | | | | much less. |
| That said, you can substantially reduce your home | | | | In addition to the cost benefits of solar usage, you also |
| energy costs and even put some money back into | | | | benefit from a cleaner environment (not to mention a |
| your pocket by supplementing your existing power | | | | cleaner conscience). In fact, the cost of not using solar |
| sources with a home solar panel. | | | | power - increased pollution and depletion of natural |
| To figure out the cost of solar panel systems to | | | | resources - is far greater than any up front cost of |
| provide supplemental power to your home, it helps to | | | | solar panel systems. |
| perform an energy audit of your home, or - put plainly - | | | | Finally, the cost of solar panel systems can be |
| an assessment of how much power you'd like your | | | | inordinately outweighed, as well, by two ways in which |
| solar panel system to generate for you each day. To | | | | it could put money back into your pocket. You can sell |
| do this, take a look at the wattage of each of the | | | | to the local power company the excess power your |
| electrical items that you might run in your home on any | | | | home solar panel generates, if you're fortunate enough |
| given day - microwave, TV, light bulbs, vacuum, | | | | to have any (and in some states, it's actually required). |
| refrigerator, fans, A/C, computer, etc., and add it all | | | | And for a limited time, anyone in the United States can |
| together. | | | | receive a tax credit on the cost of solar panel |
| This can be a very revealing process, especially if | | | | systems you install in your home. See the IRS for |
| you've never done it before, and will surely help you to | | | | details. |
| get a clearer idea of which items use the least power | | | | |