Monday, June 11, 2012

Solar Power Installation Is It Worth the Cost

Solar Power Installation - Is It Worth the Cost

Climate change and rising energy prices have a lot of people rethinking how to power their homes. But if you've ever gotten a quote from a solar power installer you know that a system designed especially for your building can be costly. Do the benefits outweigh the outlay?What are the benefits? No more electric bills. Once you get your system going, you'll supply all your electric needs from the sun, a free renewable resource. Depending on your current cost of electric power, and the future increases in the cost of that power, most people will regain their initial investment in anywhere from 12-25 years. Sun Power is clean. Solar Power is carbon neutral and does not pollute the air nor the water while generating your electrical power. Solar Power does not cause radioactive fallout, nor cancer, nor genetic mutations. Every home taken off the grid and powered with solar energy helps reverse the effects of climate change, and helps to ensure a clean and green planet for our grandchildren. Battery Backups insulate you from Electric Grid Outages. Providing you've opted for at least some battery storage, you will still have power if the grid goes out. This could save a bundle on freezer food alone! It will also ensure that your furnace will continue to run if it requires electricity to regulate it. Photovoltaic Panels increase your Property Value. If you decide to sell your property you'll find that your solar panel system will make your home much more attractive and valuable to prospective buyers, resulting in a quicker and more profitable sale.How can you save money on your new solar power system?There are kits available that allow you to install the system yourself. These kits are complete and contain all the components needed, along with all instructions needed for installation.You can also design and install your own system if you're handy. This involves researching and buying the separate components needed for your site and your capacity, then mounting the panels, wiring it up, and installing the inverter and battery backups yourself. For certain types of systems you will need a certified electrician to help with the final step, but can reap considerable cost benefits doing the installation yourself, if you have the time and skills.There are also ways to save a bunch of money if you are very handy and can follow instructions well. Purchasing broken solar panels and rebuilding them into your own system can net you a very cheap system. This is a time consuming task, but can result in a great system for a considerably smaller cash outlay.Where can I find out more?