Do-It-Yourself Going Green Ideas
Feb
7
DIY Solar power systems are a great way for a homeowner to generate their own power to help lower their power bills.
The newer solar panels available today have close to 20% efficiency and are built to last longer than older panels. This means you need less of these new panels to generate enough electricity for your house. Because these new panels are so efficient you need a smaller amount space on the roof and since you are buying less of them, the system will cost you less too. Besides being more efficient, the new panels are also built to last longer and generate peak power further into their lives. The reason they can do this is that the solar cells that make up the panels have been dramatically improved over the years.
Another key component of any homemade solar power system is the inverter and these have been improved as well. The inverter is the part of your DIY solar for the home system that converts the DC current produced by the solar panels to AC current. It also switches between solar power and your local utility in the evenings so you always have the power you need. Older versions of these inverters were built to handle a very specific amount of solar cells and current.
That meant that you would basically have to design your solar for the home power system to fit these specifications exactly, and could not expand the system once it was installed. This was a bit of a problem for many people who would have liked to been able to start with a smaller system and then grow their capacity over time. With the newer inverters, you can do this easily.
They are built to be very flexible and will let you start out with a small system and add a few panels each time your finances allow. This way you can begin with a relatively inexpensive system and still gain the benefits of free electricity, and then expand your savings each year. These new inverters also allow a bank of batteries to be added later if you choose and some of them will also allow you to combine your solar for the home power system with a wind turbine for even more free power. This gives you one system to monitor and makes controlling all of your alternative energy solutions easier. Some of these new inverters also have expanded software that allows you to better monitor the health of your system and the amount of electricity you are producing.
For more information on DIY solar for the home visit http://www.solarpassivehome.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brock_Parsons
Financial Return on Solar For the Home
By Jim Smoot Platinum Quality Author
People every day look for investments that will help them save money, or that will increase in value over the years. They turn to the stock market, or invest in IRAs, or even remodel their homes to increase the resell value. One option that is typically not considered is to add solar for home use as an investment.
Of all the option you could chose, solar for home is one that will give a guaranteed payoff over time.
For instance, if you were to invest $4,000 in a solar furnace to heat your house, and you were able to save an average of $50 per month on your heating bill, the savings would pay that investment off in 6.5 years. For some parts of the country, a $50 savings is a very low estimate. If you live in a colder climate, or if gas prices start to rise again that savings number could rise dramatically.
Now you have a furnace that continues to give you a monthly savings, and that investment also adds to the resell value of your home. Buyers are looking for options that will allow them to keep their utility bills low, and “green” sells. That makes your house more attractive in the housing market.
Some estimates put the appreciation of an investment in solar for home use at up to 20 times the annual savings rate for the furnace. That alone would cover the cost of your initial investment.
When you look at the other forms of investment that are available, there really aren’t any others that can give you the same return on your investment. If you get lucky and invest in the right stocks, you may see a nice return of the same 6.5 years, but you could also lose your investment, and have nothing to show for it.
Remodeling a bathroom or kitchen will increase the value of your home, but you will only see the return for that investment if you sell your house. You solar for home use investment will continue to pay as long as it is in use.
You can get the same kind of return for your investment if you invest in a solar for home electrical system as well. Your return will be even greater if you do the work of installing that system yourself.
Don’t forget about government grants when you consider the return on your investment in solar energy. The federal government, and many state and local governments give grants and tax incentives for investments in green technology for home use. This can lower the cost of your initial investment significantly, and make your return even higher.
Solar for home heating and electricity is a viable option for investing in your future. You will see a monthly savings on your utility bills, and you will see a long term increase in the value of your property. Look into a solar energy system for your home today.
Jim Smoot is husband and father, and he wants the Earth to be a great place to live for his children, and someday, for his grandchildren. He believes that increasing the use solar and wind energy is a great first step toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Learn how you can take steps in that direction by visiting: http://www.renewable-solar-energy.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Smoot
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