Alternative Energy HQ solar power for homes, wind energy, and bio fuel issues
Are you thinking of installing solar power? Well, if so, you’ll be pleased to hear that I have gathered together some information so you can get a good idea of how much it will cost and exactly what the scale of the job is.
Make a decision about what percentage of your home are you going to be running on solar power. You could use solar power to heat your water tank. You could go further and go completely off-grid thus ensuring the whole house is running on solar power. It’s up to you, but you must discover the average amount of electricity your house uses per month.
To work out the average energy usage of your home, simply go find your monthly electricity bills for the last two years. Get the calculator out. Be aware of the year’s peak times, like Christmas when you would normally go through a lot more power than normal. This way, we can establish your home’s solar power system so it definitely can cope with whatever demands your home may plave upon it.
Now, for your security and peace of mind, multiply that amount by at least 1.5. If any extra electrical equipment is brought into your home you remain fully covered. So, by the time you’ve done this you will know how much solar power you need. You will also be able to tell how many solar panels you need and what size they have to be.
In this day and age, you would almost always be best advised to look online when buying solar panels. Go to Ebay and enter the words “solar panel pallet” exactly as is. Sit back and be prepared to be amazed by the incredible bargains you will find there. If you think they seem expensive, please don’t forget that these prices are a one time cost and solar panels tend to have a lifetime of at least 25 years.
In every case, always employ a skilled, experienced solar power technician to install your solar power. You will find plenty online or in your phone book. Don’t stop until you have three quotations for the job, but don’t necessarily choose based entirely on the price. Cost is important, but you may feel more confident to get a job well done from an experienced solar power technician when installing solar power for homes.
You will also have to shop around for a good quality inverter. Solar panels give out direct (DC) current when harnessing the sun’s energy. The inverter will convert this DC current into alternating (AC) current from which we can all enjoy running all our electrical toys and gizmos.
Costing about $2,000 plus maybe $500 for installation, inverters tend to last about 10 years. Don’t forgetthat this cost will arise long before you need to be looking for new solar panels.
harvest on sunny days. This reserve of energy can then be used to run your home’s electrical needs at night-time. The deep-cycle batteries will probably cost $50 to $100. I suggest you buy 10 of them. Their longevity is not so good as the inverter. Expect to have to replace them every 3-5 years.
Be sure to enquire if you can get any support from local government for the price of installing solar power for homes. Most local authorities offer tax credits. Ask your local power company as well. They may give you a special deal or give you some incentive package perhaps. Do this right and you could save 50% off the total cost or more.
Although you absolutely have to get a qualified electrician, you’ll be pleased to hear that installing solar power for homes doesn’t mean you have to have a lot of electrical work. rewiring it will need. However, this is not often an extensive job. I repeat though, be sure to use an experienced, qualified electrician.
Solar power is a long-term investment. When estimating the value of installing solar power, the question is, “What is the payback time?” After everything is all paid off, you have can kick back and relax with a house that will run on free electricity for lost of years to come!
