I live in Northern California, and while California has the reputation of being a sunny spot, many sections of the state get significant amounts of snow and rain. I live in one of those spots. When thinking about using solar panels and solar technology to help power my home I can't help but think -- will I be able to make a significant difference in my electric bill during the winter months or is this more of a 6 months out of the year investment?

The answer to that question will of course have implications on my solar budget. We do get snowfall in the winter that piles up on the rooftops. We also have stormy days and thunder storms. Will my solar panels be waterproof? How prone are they to breaking due to wind damage? On cloudy days, solar panels can drop their current output 20 to 30%. It seems that the weather will have a large impact on the validity and affordability of my project.

Many solar panel companies report that snow coverage on solar panels will stop the cells from being able to absorb sunlight completely. Looking up at my rooftop the thought of clearing off the snow in icy conditions doesn't bode well. Are there kits out there that can heat themselves up and melt the snow? Can you rotate them to encourage the snow to slide off? I couldn't be the first one to have this problem so somewhere there should be a solution.

I remember getting a ski tan when I was younger from all of the sun reflected back onto my face. In fact, it seemed that during snowy but clear weather the intensity of the sun was magnified from the reflection off the snow. Are there any solar rooftop versions out there that are able to capture this reflection? It would be interesting to see what configurations everyone has come up with to maximize solar energy absorption for their houses, especially during the winter time.

I did like one account that I read of a family that had gone completely off the grid. Their solution to storms and cloud cover was to install wind powered devices. Of course, during thunderstorms there were other problems to consider such as, "Will that lightning hit my wind converter?" I don't think I'm quite ready to add wind power. One green energy and one step at a time.

While weather may be playing a part on how I configure what my end system will look like, I still have other factors to consider: power storage and efficiency of design. Perhaps, as solar power becomes more affordable and mainstream consumers utilize solar power to a greater extent, different solar professions will arise: solar architects and energy design consultants. These professionals could take all of the guess work out of maximum energy efficiency based on existing the existing home design and space available. Until then, I'll just keep brushing off the snow.

Written by Emma Santa