There’s nothing like a major power-plant disaster to get a person thinking about finding a safer, “alternative” source of energy. Learn what you need to know about  buying and installing a photovoltaic panel-based home power system.
Is my property suitable?
Solar panels work best pointing south and angled toward the sun with minimal shade obstruction. Only about 25% of U.S. houses meet the criteria for a roof-mounted system. But if you’ve got some extra room in your yard, you can plant a solar panel array.
Community systems are an increasingly popular option. This is where neighborhood homeowners buy a share in a solar panel farm.
Do solar installations require a lot of sunshine?
That used to be true. But with improvements in “thin film” design, today’s panels can grab a good amount of power even in cloudy, cool environments. In fact, the mid-Atlantic corridor from Massachusetts to Delaware has become the busiest for solar installers.
A new “PV-Therm” panel combines the benefits of thermal solar (for water heating) and photovoltaic electricity production in an integrated system. The water-insulated panels run more efficiently in the summer while also heating your hot water tank or pool. Then in winter, the thermal power will defrost snow and ice accumulated on the panels, saving homeowners from the dangers of inching out on a slippery roof.
Can I run my house on solar power?
Most home solar installations are designed to work in tandem with your local, old-school energy supplier. And to earn UL approval, that solar system must automatically shut off whenever there’s a power outage. To wiggle around this, you need a solar system that also packs rechargeable batteries, still operable after a grid failure and disconnect.
What’s the cost, and how much can I save?
That depends on lots of things, starting with the price of component parts – dropping since China got into the solar-panel business.
The federal government continues to offer healthy rebate and tax-credit incentives equal to a 30% or more discount on the installation. State and local government subsidies also are available in some areas.
Bottom line is that the average 5- or 6-kilowatt solar system installed on a 2,500-square-foot house costs around $40,000 (but may be only $25,000 after rebates and fast depreciation) and pays that back after about seven to eight years of use.
In states like New Jersey and Delaware with better incentives, a solar shopper will also find companies offering to put a system on your roof for little or no money down with a 10- or 15-year lease or Solar Power Purchase Agreement.
You’re signing away an easement to your property, plus the promise to pay a set fee for the electricity generated by the system, which is lower in cost than you’ll pay from the local utility, stays the same all year round and is capped to only rise 2 or 3 percent a year.
Learn what state and municipal incentives are available in your area at www.dsireusa.org.
You can also take the free Solar Webinar, or learn how much a solar installation will cost your with the Free Solar Estimator.
