Comments on: If I were to install a solar panel to my home. How much would my energy bill go down? http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/ Tips and tricks about how to build solar panels Mon, 03 Jan 2011 09:07:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: callipygenous http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/comment-page-1/#comment-4867 callipygenous Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:44:42 +0000 http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/#comment-4867 Solar power isn't as cheap or easy as everyone thinks. It's not like putting a photocell on an R/C car and watching it drive happily around your driveway. You have the panels themselves, a battery bank, an inverter, and automatic switchgear. For a typical home it will cost about 15-20 grand and you can reduce your power bill to nothing (maybe even get money back for selling back to the grid). The up-front cost for a whole house system is prohibitive, but if you got the cash, go for it. Solar power isn’t as cheap or easy as everyone thinks. It’s not like putting a photocell on an R/C car and watching it drive happily around your driveway. You have the panels themselves, a battery bank, an inverter, and automatic switchgear. For a typical home it will cost about 15-20 grand and you can reduce your power bill to nothing (maybe even get money back for selling back to the grid).

The up-front cost for a whole house system is prohibitive, but if you got the cash, go for it.

]]> By: 11:11 http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/comment-page-1/#comment-4866 11:11 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:44:42 +0000 http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/#comment-4866 If you get a big enough solar panel, or even 2 or 3, depending on your energy consumption, your bill can go down to practically nothing. Better yet, if you make more power than you use, that power gets sold to the city and you could actually get a bill that is giving YOU money. Can't tell you any specifics, but there is a project just outside my city I worked on, the whole community has solar panels all over the garage roofs (about 3 or 4 for each house) and an additional panel or 2 on the house itself. These panels power a hot water system that heats the house as well. It's a really great idea that will save you tonnes of money, and probably make you money. Contact some local HVAC companies to see what they have to say. Consultations are always free! If you get a big enough solar panel, or even 2 or 3, depending on your energy consumption, your bill can go down to practically nothing. Better yet, if you make more power than you use, that power gets sold to the city and you could actually get a bill that is giving YOU money.

Can’t tell you any specifics, but there is a project just outside my city I worked on, the whole community has solar panels all over the garage roofs (about 3 or 4 for each house) and an additional panel or 2 on the house itself. These panels power a hot water system that heats the house as well. It’s a really great idea that will save you tonnes of money, and probably make you money. Contact some local HVAC companies to see what they have to say. Consultations are always free!

]]> By: abfabmom1 http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/comment-page-1/#comment-4868 abfabmom1 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:44:42 +0000 http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/#comment-4868 The costs involved will be directly related to the size of the system you get. In theory, the best situation is to get a system that can give you the same number of watts that you're already using. This means that you'll need to do a little research (or find someone who can do it for you). For the most part, the folks at your local solar system dealerships can help determine your needs, if you bring some copies of your power bill when you visit. My friend uses solar (I want to, but have some issues with getting there). His annual power bill last year came to $64...which is the power company's fee for being attached to the grid. The year before, he ended up having a small credit with the power company...this year, he knew when the cycle was about to close, so he jacked up the A/C, and used as many electrical appliances as possible, so that he could close out the year at a net balance. The costs involved will be directly related to the size of the system you get. In theory, the best situation is to get a system that can give you the same number of watts that you’re already using. This means that you’ll need to do a little research (or find someone who can do it for you). For the most part, the folks at your local solar system dealerships can help determine your needs, if you bring some copies of your power bill when you visit.

My friend uses solar (I want to, but have some issues with getting there). His annual power bill last year came to $64…which is the power company’s fee for being attached to the grid. The year before, he ended up having a small credit with the power company…this year, he knew when the cycle was about to close, so he jacked up the A/C, and used as many electrical appliances as possible, so that he could close out the year at a net balance.

]]> By: Dave L http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/comment-page-1/#comment-4869 Dave L Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:44:42 +0000 http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/#comment-4869 You won't save that much. Solar can heat water and run a few lights, etc, but the biggest home energy hogs are your dryer, stove, washer and dishwasher. You couldn't put enough solar on a roof to run those, so you'd still have to use metered electricity. Only thing that could offset costs a little is if your electricity utility 'buys' electricity back from you when your meter runs backwards. You won’t save that much. Solar can heat water and run a few lights, etc, but the biggest home energy hogs are your dryer, stove, washer and dishwasher. You couldn’t put enough solar on a roof to run those, so you’d still have to use metered electricity. Only thing that could offset costs a little is if your electricity utility ‘buys’ electricity back from you when your meter runs backwards.

]]> By: ►BobB◄ http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/comment-page-1/#comment-4870 ►BobB◄ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:44:42 +0000 http://www.buildsolarpanel.org/if-i-were-to-install-a-solar-panel-to-my-home-how-much-would-my-energy-bill-go-down/#comment-4870 figure that the panels cost about $1.00 per watt. Then there is installation, voltage conversion, battery backup for night time and cloudy days, this brings the total cost to about $5.00 per watt. The average US home is 240V 200A (the voltage is divided at the power panel into two 120V branches) That is 44000 watts. To completely remove yourself from the grid, $5.00/watt times 44000 watts......$220,000 to remove yourself from the grid. figure that the panels cost about $1.00 per watt. Then there is installation, voltage conversion, battery backup for night time and cloudy days, this brings the total cost to about $5.00 per watt.

The average US home is 240V 200A (the voltage is divided at the power panel into two 120V branches)

That is 44000 watts.

To completely remove yourself from the grid, $5.00/watt times 44000 watts……$220,000 to remove yourself from the grid.

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