Solar energy is used for more than just making electricity; it is also used for heating, hot water, and keeping the swimmer pool or spa warm. Solar power is transformed by photovoltaic panels into electricity for residential use. These panels are placed on the roof of a home, on the ground near the home, or on poles in a convenient location next to the home.
After installing a solar energy system it normally takes years for a homeowner to break even on their investment in solar power. However, many states offer rebates that help reduce these installation costs. There are also federal tax incentives for reducing the overall cost of a solar energy system. Both state rebates and federal tax incentives make arriving at the break even point much sooner for most homeowners.
Solar Power: Tips for Installation and Use
The following are tips for optimum installation and use for a solar energy system.
- Facing South – all solar panel installations north of the equator must face south to ensure maximum sunlight year round.
- Angle of Installation – the angle of installation from horizontal is equal to the home’s latitude plus 15 degrees. For example Mobile, AL’s latitude is 30 degrees north plus 15 degrees; this equals an installation angle of 45 degrees from horizontal.
- Cleanliness – this normally means getting onto the roof once a month for cleaning. A thin layer of dust or dirt on the photovoltaic panels will effectively block off some solar power and the system will operate below its maximum efficiency.
- Solar Panels – keep the panels as close as possible to the batteries to reduce power loss in the cables.
- Solar Panel Size – when calculating the number of panels needed, use winter sunshine hours rather than summer hours. A wrong calculation could lead to dissatisfaction with performance of the system.
- Hiring a Contractor – prepare a list of all electrical appliances and their wattage, along with typical hours of use to save time. There is also are many things a homeowner should know about home improvement and hiring a contractor.
- Rebates – ensure that the contractor takes advantage of available rebates from the state or local power company.
- Tax Deductions – a home improvement energy federal tax credit of 30 percent for installed costs of solar heating and power systems. There is no maximum cap for systems installed after 2008.
- Solar Water Heating – these systems must be certified for performance by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation under their OG-300 Design and Guidelines. The credit is not available for expenses to heat swimming pools or hot tubs.
- Solar Power – these photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the primary residence and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirements.
- On or Off Power Grid – determine if the system will be on or off the power company’s grid. On the grid has the advantage that excess can be sold to the power company and electricity can be purchased when there is not enough power in the batteries at night or cloudy days.
- Passive or Active System – solar water heater system that moves water without using pumps is considered passive. An active system is preferred if there is a chance that water could freeze in winter.
A typical solar energy system for a home should produce about 2 kilowatts of electricity per hour on a sunny day. These system normally uses five 120 volt photovoltaic panels, that are mounted facing south. Power from these panels is channeled through a power center to charge batteries.
The batteries are linked to a 1500 – 2000 watt inverter which provides power for the house and feeds electricity back into the power company’s grid when not needed by the home. At night power is drawn mainly from the batteries, with power company back up. The specific equipment requirements vary depending on the size of home and the number of people living in it.
This type of system supplies enough power for all home lighting, vacuum, washing machine, kitchen appliances, microwave cooker, a well pump, color TV, VCR, satellite decoder, Stereo, a personal computer and printer, and a refrigerator.
Using solar energy for electrical power and water heaters in a home provides a good return on investment by increasing the value of a home. This renewable solar energy source will also reduce home energy bills, along with being environmentally friendly. Although installation costs can be expensive, the available rebates and tax deductions can reduce the cost of installation by as much as 50 percent in many cases.
David R. Wetzel - Dr. David Wetzel's experience includes more than 25 years in continuing, adult, and teacher education.
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