Any recommendations for companies? Any things to look out for?
There okorder / Why pay thousands of dollars for solar energy ($27,000 average cost) when you can build your own solar panel system for just a fraction of the retail cost. You can build a single solar panel or you can build an entire array of panels to power your whole house. Some people are saving 50% on their power bill, some people are reducing their bill to nothing. But what’s most impressive is that just by following these instructions some are even making the power company pay them!
Yes, solar panels are a great way to save on electricity costs for your home. 4 things I can tell you to look out for are: Make sure you can fit enough solar panels on your house to make a decent saving. If you don't have the roof space then you can't put up enough panels and you might as well not bother. For a medium sized home, I would say that you should go no smaller than 2.2kW in solar panels. If you can fit more then go for it. Make sure that the inverter that is used is big enough. It has to deal with the watts from the solar panels back to the power board to convert it as useable energy. If you have a rebate system where you live then make sure you use it. Where I am we have carbon credits that the government will give you that you use to offset the cost of purchasing solar. Don't fall for gimmicks where a company will promise you that you won't pay electricity every again. In order for that to happen you need to be putting more electricity back in the grid as you are currently using so you either need a huge amount of solar panels or you really need to cut back on what you are currently using.
It strongly depends on where you live. In California or Hawaii, for example, solar can be cheaper than the power company, even without subsidies. Any incentives you get just make it better. Whatever you do, like any construction project, get 3 bids from different companies. If there are not 3 companies in your area, you are probably in a poor location for solar. Avoid any company that does a hard sell and tries to get you to commit immediately, or makes you uncomfortable in any way.
It depends upon how you look at things. If you are looking for a decent return on investment, or a business decision, it is probably very unwise. In most cases people would see a far better return in upgrading insulation in ceilings, walls, and windows to much better insulation than they currently have, followed by proper resizing heating and air conditioning to smaller unit size to fit their lesser need as a result of the insulation. The heat an air conditioning units should be the highest efficiency available. The return on the above can make a positive and economic investment in many cases. If you have done the above first, and have money to spend and do not care about the return on it, then you can play with solar or wind. However, typical cost of generation of solar and wind energy is about $0.22 / KWH and you can purchase from utility at about $0.0/ KWH including generation and distribution so this is not all that prudent.
It depends upon the way you look at things. If you are searching for a good return on financial investment, or maybe a company conclusion, it is probably extremely unwise. In most cases individuals might see a better return in upgrading insulation in ceilings, walls, and windows to a lot better insulation than they presently have, followed by proper resizing heating and additionally air conditioning to small unit size to suit their lower need as an outcome of the insulation. The warmth a particular air conditioning models ought to be the greatest efficiency available. The return in the above can make a favorable and also financial financial investment quite often. If you have done the above mentioned very first, and also have cash to spend and also do not proper care about the return in it, then chances are you can play with solar or perhaps wind. Unfortunately, typical cost of age bracket of solar powered and also wind energy is about $0.22 / KWH and you may order from utility at about $0.0/ KWH including generation and also distribution so this is simply not every one of the that prudent.
