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Solar Energy Is Becoming A Top Alternative Energy Contender
Posted by GuestPoster in -Home Improvement
A lot of homeowners are looking for ways to save money on their monthly electric bill. Not surprisingly, one of the first things they look into is alternative energy.
There are many different forms of alternative energy for the homeowner that are commonly marketed, depending on what area of the country you live in. Geothermal energy is touted as a way to help heat and cool the home, while wind, water, and solar power vie with each other for top spot in electricity production.
Many homes are not suited for windmills or hydroelectric plants. Basically, if there is not enough wind or water available, or if city ordinances prevent their installation, a homeowner will find themselves searching for another power source to install instead.
That leaves solar energy as the front-runner in most circumstances, and is one reason why solar power is expected to grow so much over the next decade.
A lot of homeowners wonder just how much do solar panels cost. It turns out that a homeowner will likely pay $4-6 per watt for the panels themselves, and those prices can go as high as $12 per watt if a large battery backup system is being used.
Grid-tied systems that use the power grid as backup electricity, typically have lower costs associated with them.
The really good news for the homeowner who decides to install solar panels is that they raise the value of the home immediately. And while they really only increase by about as much as it costs to install them, market studies have shown that it makes the home more attractive, and helps it sell faster, even in depressed economies.
So the real challenge with installing solar panels, then, is coming up with the initial funding. A homeowner can easily expect to spend at least 12 years paying back the solar panels. However, once paid back, they can offer decades of free electricity!
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