Home Solar Power System - Benefits and Drawbacks
Posted: Tuesday, January 05, 2010
by Tanya Turner
Using renewable solar power for homes is one of the hottest home improvement topics these days. Especially since the government provides rebates and pushes the benefits of switching to sunlight energy. But before making a decision you should consider the cons of home solar power systems as well as their advantages.
Pros of home solar power system
- First and most obvious - it will save you a lot. For example, most common system is 1kW and if it is well located, it can generate energy worth $2000-2500 a year.
- Significant reduction in greenhouse gas emission. It might not seem like a good enough reason to go solar, but think about it this way - the more people use solar panels, the better ecology we all have
- You would be able to take advantage of government rebate program, so part of your initial installation costs will be returned to you
- The largest drawback is installation cost, even with rebates you should be prepared to pay a few thousand dollars.
- A typical 1kW solar home system probably will not cover all your electricity needs. For a family of four (two adults and two kids) it usually covers only about 25% of all your electricity cost. To reduce cost even more you would need to put up solar water heater, which is a separate item with its own installation costs.
- Solar systems perform well only if the panels can catch enough sunlight. So if your house is surrounded by tall buildings or shaded by the trees, the system will be a waste of money.
Initial investment into the solar power system is what prevents many homeowners from installing it. The costs really are quite high - they can run four to six thousand dollars for a most common household solar power system of 1kW. However, as already mentioned, the government provides some rebates for households that qualify. I
t also helps you to spread the payment over several years without paying the interest. Look for government supported solar power loans. That is the best way to pay for your new renewable energy system.
Another approach is to start with a smaller system and add more panels as the time goes. Also different solar energy companies can give you different prices, so you always should shop around and obtain several quotes before you sign with one or the other contractor.
More ways to use solar power
Apart from using solar photovoltaic energy to power appliances in your home there are several other ways sunlight power can save you even more.
- Use portable solar panels for your garden lights or even as mobile phone and computer chargers
- consider thermal water heater even if you have gas, in the long run water heated by sunlight will cost you less then by gas
- If you have a swimming pool use direct circulation systems to heat up your pool water. You do not need to install any panels for that.
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