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Posts Tagged ‘residential solar power’

Significant solar power plant projects are being considered in locations like California and New Mexico where there is significant sunshine.  It is therefore reasonable to consider the overall effectiveness and practicality of solar power plants on a large scale.  To what extent can solar power be used to power America’s energy base?

The proposed answer is simple.  Pound for pound and dollar for dollar solar power stations can not create the output of a fossil fuel power station.  The energy trapped in coal, natural gas, and diesel fuel is very concentrated and very potent.  Combustion fuels will continue to outperform the renewables market for as long as carbon based fuel prices remain low.

Combustible fuels are nothing more than solar energy locked up and concentrated from millenia before, so don’t think of them as a bad thing.  Without combustion, we would be without many modern technological developments, and we could not support our industrial base.

Most of our comforts and commercial activities are founded on several industries.  This foundation includes the mining of ores from the Earth, and the manufacturing of raw materials such as aluminum, iron, steel, copper, and more.  This includes plants that produce machinery, tools, cars, airplanes and all the gadgets and gizmos we use in everyday life.  This also includes heavy agricultural machinery and sawmills required to provide basic products to our economy. 

Put simply we use a lot of power to accomodate our regular daily lives.  This energy consumption is rooted in the infrastructure that bolsters our economy and our existence and the reality is it is supported by energy generated through combustion.

Here in lies the fundamental problem with large scale solar power stations.  They can’t supply adequate energy to support America’s industrial base.  This does not mean they are irrelevant or undesireable.  It means solar energy systems make the most sense in small commercial and residential applications where energy consumption is lower.

For example a 500 MW fossil fueled power plant can fit in a small area of less than a quarter square mile without much difficulty.  As a comparison a PV solar power plant would need almost 2 square miles of PV panels to equal this same capacity.  This is 2 square miles of actual solar panels, and does not account for the mounting and maintenance space.  Being that solar panels provide peak power only 5 to 7 hours per day, then apples to apples we’re only getting ¼ the total output with more than eight times the space!

Where there is plenty of sun and good weather we need to use solar power solutions to supplement our energy portfolio.  Our modern combustion technologies deserve recognition.  Modern combustion power systems are more efficient and cleaner than ever before capable of reliable power 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  The energy density of fossil fuels is just to high to ignore when it comes to powering America’s industrial base.

Did you know that the average American household uses around 10,000 kWh of electricity per year? This amount would be lessened if people would invest in more energy efficient windows and appliances, and replace their insulation. These cost saving improvements alone would save hundreds of dollars a year. If you’d like to do something a little less expensive, try changing your incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent ones. You can also save money by turning lights off when you leave a room and unplugging those things that you don’t use all the time. However, solar power panel is the only way for homeowners to completely eliminate their electricity costs. The initial not-so-inexpensive costs of having the system installed will pay off once you can power your own house.

What Size System does Your House Need?

Homeowners can choose from several different types of residential solar power systems. Systems range from 1,000-25,000 watt systems which will service 50 to 1600 square feet, respectively. Over 25 years, a 10,000 watt system will save a homeowner nearly $50,000 while using 10,000 kWh a year. Because of the different sizes of homes and the amount of power each household uses, homeowners’ savings from using a residential solar power system may vary. Many people choose to supplement rather than replace their reliance on the power grid with residential solar power as solar power systems powerful enough to supply enough electricity for the average home are still a little expensive. Seventy-five thousand dollars is a bit much for the average homeowner to get off the grid, even though those savings will help the system pay for itself in a decade or so.

Tax credits and Government incentives are available for those homeowners looking to upgrade their home that can be used to lower the initial set-up fees. For example, if your $75,000 solar power system is eligible for a tax credit of $35,000, that means you will only have to pay $40,000 out of pocket. Tax credits greatly decrease the cost of residential solar power, spurring the market with monetary incentives.

More Solar Energy Advantages:

As our cars make the transition from gasoline engines to electric motors, our power grid will be taxed even further. By beginning to upgrade our power grid with smart technologies and making our homes energy independent with residential solar power, we can ensure the safety of our energy grid for years to come, all while saving ourselves money and protecting the environment.

Solar power is being considered by an increasingly large amount of homeowners each year as electricity costs continue to rise. As energy cost caps expire or are removed, those energy costs rise even further. Installing a residential solar power system on your house is one way to “get off the grid. Each homeowner’s situation and energy consumption varies and will determine the capacity your residential solar power system will need, but switching could save you thousands of dollars in the ensuing decades.

Counting the Savings

Saving money on energy costs is possible. The only cost to a home solar system is the upfront installation costs. The installation costs usually average $20,000, significantly more than what you would spend on energy consumption costs over a decade or two. Eventually though, the system will pay itself off, offset by rises in energy costs. You may also be eligible to receive a tax credit from your government. These tax credits could decrease your upfront installation fees of your home solar power system saving you even more money. No matter the size of the residential solar power system that you use, it will pay itself off in about ten years or so.

Another interesting thing to note is that if you end up producing more electricity than you use, the energy company will buy it back from you. During the winter, there may not be sufficient sunlight for your solar power system to produce excess amounts of electricity. Homeowners have other options to maximize their savings even further. Simple upgrades to things like insulation and windows can add hundreds of dollars of savings a year. A home can easily save hundreds of dollars a year simply by replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones.

”Getting off the grid” is often not cheap, and requires diligent changes in your life style, that will pay off in the long-run. In the coming years, it will become even cheaper and more efficient to make homes green. New methods not only mean that homes will consume less energy, but also that they may be able to provide their own energy. Adding a home solar power system to your home or business is one way to get on board with America’s drive to become less dependent on man-made sources of energy.

How to Rent a Solar Energy System for Your Home by Daniel Stouffer

A new company is emerging; one that allows American homeowners to produce their own clean, green, renewable energy from the sun and keep the savings created by locking in a monthly rental rate. Homeowners can save thousands of dollars powering their home with solar generated electricity.

It is not just the American Dream any longer. It is possible for U.S. homeowners to save money on their energy bills by renting a residential solar energy system. A homeowner can help to lower their carbon emissions by utilizing renewable energy. A solar equipment manufacturer is planning to offer an affordable, hassle free way for U.S. homes to install solar. Saving money by utilizing solar generated electricity is a bonus.

In their pilot installation phase, this company is working to remove the barriers to wide-scale solar adoption in the United States. Its business model is to rent all of the equipment needed to power a residential home with solar electricity.

There is an energy auditing process and required feasibility study to better determine suitable locations. Homeowners hoping to have a solar electric system installed may not qualify in some cases due to environmental or sunlight hour restrictions.

reThinking a Solar Energy Rental Service — The U.S. people do not have to buy a high-dollar solar energy system. It is offered on a rental basis. The installation is free, with it being part of the rental service, and any permitting or rebate challenges related to the system installation are handled by the company – not the homeowner. The solar manufacturer pays for, installs, owns and operates the solar system installation on behalf of the homeowner. This solar rental service allows the average citizen to self-produce their own renewable energy.

The homeowner pays a rental fee and produces solar generated electricity from the solar system installed on their home. The homeowner doesn’t have to worry about maintaining the equipment or any of the other concerns that come with making a solar system purchase.

This rental service takes care of all the barriers and headaches associated with the installation of residential solar systems. The rental service helps prevent pollution, helps to support national security, and helps promote many green initiatives in local communities across the United States.

The Residential Solar Energy System — This service provides enhanced efficiency and better control of your energy usage. The system will monitor the energy production on a daily basis. The homeowner can also track household energy consumption via online reporting. The integrated solar unit provides a renewable energy source that helps a homeowner self-produce renewable energy.

Solar Generated Electricity Saves Money — Switching to solar energy can also save on long term electricity costs. The homeowner pays a flat monthly rental fee for the solar energy unit. They generate renewable energy from the rented system and this electricity offsets the energy that must be purchased from a utility company. This will cause a reduction in the average paid for electricity going forward.

The rental pays for itself over the life span of the residential solar energy system. The homeowner saves money in the long run because the rental rate for the unit stays flat while the utilities’ rate for electricity continues to increase.

The U.S. homeowner can produce renewable energy, save money on their energy costs, and feel good about lowering their carbon emissions. This solar rental service is truly solar made simple.

Daniel Stouffer plans to make the right Eco-friendly, green solutions available to the American homeowners in a simple, affordable way. Our role involves the leadership, communication, and the education related to renewable energy. We provide homeowners the option to rent a solar electric system and avoid the huge, upfront investment in solar technology. About solar rents: http://www.reThinkingSolar.com

Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles