Can someone tell me about solar panels for homes?
I was trying to look online for solar panels for my home to take some of the strain off of using oil and electricity but I find it very hard to understand exactly how they are used.
Like one that I looked up is 100 watts…..is that like a light bulb watt? How many things can that power?
Is it really cheaper in the long run because the panels are very expensive?
If anyone has web sites that can explain this to me I would appreciate a link, or anyone to answer part of my question.
Here’s an article that will give you an idea of what residential solar is all about:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20152332,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes
Then you can followup with the sources below to get more info.
I had one on my home in CT. It was a solar hot water heater.
It was hooked up to my regular hot water tank, so that if it were cloudy for a couple of days..I would still have hot water.
If you think of all the hot water you use, it was a real savings.
When I purchased it, you got a $3000 tax credit from the Government. It is a long term investment , but I would say mine paid for itself in 3 or 4 years.
I would be careful these days..with oil being so expensive, you going to have crooks and fly by night companies out there.Make sure you check out the company…very carefully.
And learn , learn, learn…about how the systems work
References :
this should help
http://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell5.htm
Comment by Ginger R — February 17, 2010 @ 4:27 pm
Here’s an article that will give you an idea of what residential solar is all about:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20152332,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes
Then you can followup with the sources below to get more info.
References :
American Solar Energy Society
http://www.ases.org/aboutre/faq.htm
US DOE Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency–Solar
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850
Comment by This Old House — February 17, 2010 @ 5:08 pm