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solar power plants are not cheap. That is, it is important to compare them in the context of other types of redevelopment projects. Home buyers and brokers view a solar photovoltaic or solar hot water heating as a major improvement of the value? similar to adding a deck or remodeling your kitchen. Plus unlike a deck or renovating the kitchen, you will also earn a spot on your power bill. Here are some ways to be foolproof, the cost estimate of a photovoltaic or solar thermal energy and determine whether a solar system would be useful you.

Six simple steps to estimate the cost of a solar system />
Solar power plants are not cheap. That is, it is important to compare them in the context of other types of redevelopment projects. Home buyers and brokers view a solar photovoltaic or solar hot water heating as a major improvement of the value? similar to adding a deck or remodeling your kitchen. Plus unlike a deck or renovating the kitchen, you will also earn a spot on your power bill.

Solar systems often provide additional financial support as well: many countries and supply facilities in the USA offer attractive financial incentives to lower initial investment costs associated with a solar system.

Here are some ways to be foolproof, the cost estimate of a photovoltaic or solar thermal energy and determine whether a solar system would be useful you. Let’s start with a home photovoltaic (PV).

Step 1: Estimate your home electricity needs

For starters, it’s good, any idea how much power you have. You have to see a better point of comparison if you know how many kilowatt hours (kWh) you per day, per month, per year. Your electricity bill should this information.

Naturally, the current account will display your costs and many utilities include a diagram that shows how to change your monthly energy consumption / costs during the year. This will help you assess whether your energy consumption is higher and at what time of year.

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If you build a new house, you need your application to assess the type of equipment you install and based the size of your home. The call pross this “burden”.

To find out which anticipated load, create a table to record the watt use for each device. Each device? whether a water heater, electric light, computer or refrigerator? must be a label that shows its performance. Or get information about the manufacturer’s website.

Some current and voltage to obtain the list of labels watts multiply the two together (amperage x voltage = watts). In another column the number of hours recorded per unit for the operation. Then to several watts and watt-hour estimate hours per day. Since it is difficult, all electrical equipment (it can be tedious scouting out every toothbrush charger and mobile phone) anticipate, you can have a multiplier of 1.5 to be sure.

Step 2: Anticipating the Future

In 2005, the average residential electricity rates in the United States ranged from 6 to about 16 cents per kilowatt hour, depending on where you live. Average prices for electricity and retail trade grew by about 30% since 1999 and the upward trend expected to continue, especially as the cost of coal and hydropower used to generate electricity rising as well. So think about your power of the house and the current and future costs in relation to the other

needs. Step 3: How much sun you

To examine the Florida Solar Energy Center in a study of how a 2-kW photovoltaic system, when acts on a home energy efficient throughout the continental United States (http://www. Fsec.ucf.edu / en / publications / html / FSEC- PF-380-04 /).

The study represents all factors affecting the performance of a PV system, how they affect the influence of temperature on photovoltaic cells, the number of hours of peak sun in different regions, and the effectiveness converter for converting solar energy from DC to AC.

As the study implies, solar panels work in the United States. Also in the north or in the “rainy Seattle”, a PV system can pencil if designed and correctly. In New York and New Jersey, one kilowatt system should produce about 1270 kilowatt hours of electricity per year installed, Seattle, produce one kilowatt system should be about 1200 kWh per year. In the Southwest, of course, these reports will be much larger.

Solar contractors in your area can help, the ideal size for your photovoltaic system.

Step 4: Size your system

In general, solar photovoltaic systems in size from 1 to 5 kilowatts are usually sufficient to meet the electricity needs of most homes. One advantage of grid-connected systems is that you can complement solar PV use, or to offset some of your electricity needs, so you can size your system for your budget and getting the system will add later if needed.

Also, in a side note, here is a basic rule to remember in order to estimate the physical space your PV system may be needed: a square of 10 meters results in watts. So, in full sun, a square meter of a conventional photovoltaic panel will produce 10 watts of power. A system of 1000 watts, for example, have 100 A? 200 square feet, depending on the type of PV module.

Step 5: Know your rebates

Many states and municipalities offer rebates, tax credits and other incentives for homeowners to install residential photovoltaic systems and solar water heating. For a complete database of incentives for renewable energy http://www.dsireusa.org.

At the federal level, you can enjoy a tax credit of 30% (to 000) for the purchase of a residential solar system at least 31 December 2008.

Step 6: Run the numbers

Although the cost of a photovoltaic system depends on the size that you install, your electricity rate, the amount of kilowatt hours you expect to produce and the state / local rebates / tax credits that are available, the formulas to calculate the returns are essentially the same.

For those who like formulas, the use of the following quick rough estimate of how much a photovoltaic system can cost you.

Sale Price
solar photovoltaic system
+ Building permits
-, 000 federal tax credit /> - Tax credit or refund of the state
- Reimbursement of utility or other incentive
Net Investment = />
Kilowatts of electricity from PV />
x kilowatt hours />
= Annual Kilowatt energy from the />
PV
Annual Kilowatt energy from the />
x
current residential electricity rates
Annual = $ $ saved />
Annual PV energy produced in excess
x $ loan />
= Annual value of the net metering

Of course, a more detailed evaluation will be conducted by a professional. Working with a contractor solar energy to the size and price of the system for you. As is the case with any major purchase, do not hesitate to ask several offers from different suppliers.

Many providers of solar energy to give you a complete estimate. Useful information to know include:

- Total costs for the system operational (labor cost for construction and installation and equipment costs) make
- Equipment (brand and model)
- />
- License fees, if necessary
- The tax where applicable
- The Federal tax credits
- Credit of state or local tax authority or discounts
- Utility Discount
- In view of the Renewable Energy Certificates or Net metering credits
- Operating costs and planned maintenance
- Expected savings

solar thermal (also known as solar water heaters)

Solar thermal systems capture the sun’s energy to heat water and one of the systems are the most viable renewable energy. They are used to hot water storage and / or radiator heat. Pool solar system is a different type of solar thermal system specifically for a swimming pool or spa heat developed.

Generally, it is useful to examine the economics of installing a solar system if you have an electric water heater with electricity prices by at least 5 cents per kilowatt hour, and tax credits or rebates are available. (It may be useful to replace a gas water heater when you are your least cost / MMBtu).

The formulas for calculating the cost of a system of the solar system are similar to the estimated costs for the installation of solar photovoltaic system. Many solar energy professionals can help you determine which system works best for themselves.

Heat your pool with Solar Power

Although few jurisdictions provide financial incentives for using solar energy to a pool or spa, usually heat, use of solar energy to heat your pool is “natural” a return on investment standpoint.

The electricity used by a pool during the swimming season heat, often to the same amount of energy consuming homes without pools, more than a year. The combination of a solar system to produce heat for the swimming pool with a solar blanket to heat generated can further maximize the efficiency and extend your swimming season to remember.

Most installers recommend that a solar collector to heat a pool size is about half the square footage of your pool surface. The solar panels typically last 10 â? 20 years and come with a warranty of 10 years.

How long does it take to break even on the cost of your solar power system pool depends on where you live. In California and other parts of the Southwest, you will break even in 1-3 years but places as “far north” as Canada, a solar pool heating system pencils in the course of time.