| Solar power pays off big the longer you use it. The | | | | to do it does not mean you actually should try. |
| ability to slash your utility bill to the nub is one of the | | | | The first reason is purely economical. The government |
| more satisfying things you will experience month after | | | | is willing to help you with the cost of a new panel |
| month. That being said, the cost of buying a solar panel | | | | system. In fact, the help comes from different |
| system and installing it is a significant front end cost. | | | | governmental entities including the fed, state and local |
| Given this, many consider installing their new panel | | | | municipalities. The help is usually in the form of big tax |
| systems on their own. Is the DIY approach a smart | | | | credits that can cut the cost by 30 to 50 percent |
| one with solar power? It really depends on where you | | | | depending on the state you are in. To take advantage |
| live. | | | | of these requirements, however, you must have the |
| The first solar panel systems were all installed by their | | | | system professionally installed. |
| owners. There simply wasn't any choice. There were | | | | The second reason is more practical. Most new |
| no professional installers, so owners had to do it | | | | systems are "on grid". This simply means they don't |
| themselves with rather mixed results to say the least. | | | | have batteries to store the electricity created. Instead, |
| This is no longer the case. Solar panel installers are | | | | the systems are tied into the local utility grid. As you |
| readily available in just about any part of the country. In | | | | might imagine, the utility companies get a tad bit touchy |
| fact, this was one area that continually grew during the | | | | about people trying to connect to the grid. In most |
| Great Recession, a real rarity. | | | | areas, the utility company will require a professional |
| So, should you install your own panels? Well, the first | | | | installer or someone from the utility itself to do the |
| thing to understand is that you can do it. It requires | | | | work. |
| some basic construction knowledge and what have | | | | Can you install solar panels yourself? Of course. |
| you, but there are a couple of reasons why being able | | | | Should you? That's another question entirely. |