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WHAT IS THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY?

LEARN ABOUT THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR YOUR HOME

With energy costs continuing to rise, more and more homeowners are considering the use of solar energy. The first question is always, “How much will solar energy cost me? The answer to this question depends on several factors. The size of your home is not necessarily a determining factor. Determining the cost of solar energy cannot be calculated based upon the size of your home. There are many other factors to be considered before you can get an estimate on the cost of using solar power for your home.

CALCULATING THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY

Yes, sunlight is free, but the cost of turning free sunlight into power you can use can be a costly investment. Still, considering everything, it could be one of the best investments you make. Installing solar energy will put an end to rate increases from your utility company. Thus over time the investment will save you money. Another benefit is that using solar energy causes no harm to the environment. Several factors come under consideration as you begin to calculate it. Your location plays an important factor. Depending on where you are located you will get somewhere between four to six hours of sun per day. More sun in the summer and less in the winter must also be factored in if you’re considering a 100% solar energy system.

To figure the cost of solar energy, take the total number of KWH shown on your electric bill. Divide that amount by 30 to get your daily use average. Next, take your daily average and divide it by the yearly average of full sun hours you get per day. Multiply that number by 1.15. This gives you an estimate of how many watts of solar panel you need to maintain the energy use.

Do-it-yourself cost of installing solar energy panels averages around $7.00 per watt, more if you use a licensed contractor to install it. In most areas you will also need a back-up or supplemental system to ensure adequate amounts of power during all seasons of the year.

Use calculators to find out your system cost.

TAX INCENTIVES AND OTHER BENEIFTS OF SOLAR POWER

Its your money- get it back! Be sure to check with your state/country to learn about these tax incentives. More about this topic under tax incentives.

NET METERING

Net metering is another incentive to help offset the investment of installing solar power in your home. Net metering allows you to “sell” extra power back to your utility company. The methods and specifics vary from state to sate and from company to company, so be sure to check with your local power company to find out what’s offered.

The cost of installing solar energy may seem high initially. Once you factor in future yearly savings, the tax incentives, the net metering, and the confidence of knowing you’re generating your own solar power without worry of rate increases, the initial costs of a solar power is a bargain.

Solar power is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY? Solar energy (SE) is being used more and more to replace traditional forms of energy. The sun burns hydrogen at its core, thus releasing huge amounts of energy.	SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY Solar thermal panels have different classifications by the US Energy Information Agency; the three different classifications are low, medium and high temperature collectors.
SOLAR ENERGY HISTORY Today there is a renewed focus on solar energy. More people are recognizing the need and the advantage of solar power.	HOW IS SOLAR ENERGY IS USED? In the last decade, many new technologies have been adapted to help us take advantage of the massive power of the sun.
SOLAR ENERGY FOR HOMES STOPS HIGH POWER BILLS More and more people are realizing the benefits of solar energy for homes. Twenty years ago solar power cost seven times as much as it does today.	PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY Passive solar energy to put simply uses sunlight for energy without mechanical systems.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM Using solar energy systems for home use will reduce your energy bills for the life of the system.	SOLAR ELECTRICITY Everything from a pocket calculator, to a car, to your home can be powered by photovoltaics or solar electricity.
ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY There are many advantages of solar energy, though solar energy is a fairly new source of renewable energy, it is a very clean way to produce energy in our energy demanding world.	THE FUTURE OF THE SOLAR ENERGY With costs of other sources of energy consistently becoming more and more expensive, the choice of using the sun’s “free” energy is becoming more and more mainstream.
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SOLAR ENERGY Incorporating passive and active solar energy systems into new homes and building will save thousands on energy costs.	LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY Solar energy facts prove it is the best source of inexhaustible power.
PORTABLE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM Solar energy is becoming much more accepted as an alternative energy source to our traditional fossil fuels.	SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES The most important advantage is that solar energy is a renewable source of energy. The sun will always be there, being we require the sun for our own life, if it wasn’t here we wouldn’t be here either, right.
INTER TIE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM This kind of solar energy system is becoming more and more popular due to the government incentives increasing, as well as the rising prices of natural gas and fossil fuels.	RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY This is an active way of using solar energy. Passive on the other hand is using large windows, heat conducting tiles, fans, trees, and other such devices to heat a home.
HOW DOES SOLAR ENERGY WORK There are many household items like calculators and outside lighting in use on a massive scale…and they all use solar energy.	OFF GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS The batteries are for storing the energy not used during low periods of consumption. A system monitor will display battery charge, panel output, and system performance.
SOLAR ELECTRIC ENERGY Solar energy technologies such as heat and light from the sun, along with solar-based resources like wind and wave power, as well as hydroelectricity account for most of the available renewable sources of energy today.	GRID TIE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM A grid tied system can be configured two different ways. The first is to set up your system with solar panels with or without wind generators and connect them to a battery bank.
ON GRID SOLAR ENERGY Ongrid solar energy is by far the cheapest form when compared to off grid solar energy. By generating your own electricity you reduce your electrical bill and in some cases may generate money by running the meter backward.	SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Fossil fuels have an advantage in that they hold more readily released energy than a solar panel can collect. If you install a solar array on your house you most likely won’t bring it with you when you move.
LEARN ABOUT SEVEN MYTHS OF SOLAR ELECTRICITY As solar electricity gains in popularity and more people investigate its potential, there have come misunderstanding and myths. There are seven main myths about solar electricity that need to be dispelled.	HOW IS SOLAR ENERGY IS USED? The sun’s heat and light is one of the most powerful resources to touch the planet.
SOLAR ENERGY PANELS Solar energy panels are made of photovoltaic cells, can consist of tubes for heating water, or air heaters.