More and more home owners are choosing to install solar panels on their roofs. According to the Energy Information Administration, the official provider of energy statistics to the US government, the number of installed units was over 280,000 in 2007 (the latest year that data is available). Why are so many people installing them?
The first reason is that solar, or pv, panels can save money. In many cases homes become “net providers” of energy. That means the solar panels create more electricity than the homeowners’ need, turning these homes into mini-power stations, where the electricity the homeowner does not need is sold back to the power company. They not only reduce their electricity bill to zero, but get credits applied to their electric company’s bill. That comes in handy on those months that there may not be enough sun to cover all of your electricity use, like during a month with a lot of rain or snow – or during winter.
The second reason is that there are tax credits that try to make the installation of the panels more affordable. Recent stimulus legislation includes these incentives.
However, even with the tax credits, the costs for putting solar panels on homes can still reach into the thousands of dollars. That is beyond the reach of many people. But there are other options.
What other options are there to take advantage of this opportunity to save money?
Believe it or not, you can build your own. With as little as $100 in materials and a little elbow grease, it is possible to start putting these savings into your pocket. And there are very easy step by step guides to help. The internet offers many products that walk you through the process. Here is a great one.
I have personal experience with homeowners putting solar panels on their roofs. They are excited to be saving money and also doing their part to use safer sources of fuel, use less foreign fuel, and to be helping the environment. There is little risk or downside to switching to solar energy. And you can do it without spending thousands of dollars. It’s worth a look, so click here to see if this product is right for you.
