Comments on: Installing solar panels on roof, pros and cons.?

By: Solaris Energy of Florida

Solaris Energy of Florida — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:21:50 +0000

The answer to your question depends on
1) Where you live. Cold or warm environment?
2) How much energy you use? How many people live in the house.

If you are sharing a house with 3-4 people, a solar water heater would be a great start. I’m sure everybody is taking a shower and doing the dishes and perhaps even doing laundry with hot water. So if you got 3-4 people living in the house, there is your 20% energy saving…

Once you do that, you can then consider installing solar electric panels (PV) HOWEVER beware, those panels are pretty costly and your return on investment is going to be much longer than a simple solar water heater. If you are planning on leaving your house, or replacing your roof within the next 5 years, don’t even consider PV for now…I personally love PV panel, but gosh darn they are pretty inefficient piece of appliances. A typical home would probably need 20-25 of them just to reduce the electric bill by half.

Last but not least, find a good reputable solar company within your area, make sure to do a good internet investigation and get quotes. They will tell you better which solar system fits your need…

Good luck!

By: threeplusonedollarbills

threeplusonedollarbills — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:21:50 +0000

In the long run this solar energy saves a lot of money and here in california the state gives rebates.

By: allen r

allen r — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:21:50 +0000

Harder and less safe to access than ground installation. They need regular dusting where ever you put them. The shortest line is best since this is DC current. I am looking to start a small wind-solar farm somewhere. There are heavy duty batteries and electric panels involved.

By: Michealla

Michealla — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:21:50 +0000

i hope you get more than us answering this question ! I only know i have had quotes , and i feel a lot of the information is kept from us.

I queried a sales person why the panels may need changing or upgrading in the 5 to 10 year span
that one has them …. since the warranty only runs for the same or less ??? This makes no sense to me to spend so much money and then when the warranty runs out ..your looking at spending simular amount of money as before for re- installation.

I love the fact that we could all be using Solar energy from the Sun or any kind of clean energy…but really the technology exists the only thing missing is ‘ A Fare Deal" as they say , Everyone is always out to rip people of . Money is too hard to come by, and greedy companies need to get of their high horses… Government need to support these a lot more ..after all that is what our taxes should cover. Not junkets overseas for fellow Councilers. It should be half the price that they are
offering everyone in Australia! And then Some ……..

i.e. for a minimum of 3.5k and say around 10 panels on a 3 bedroom home // very small home these guys want $7 - to $10.000 ,(And very small solar enery power) ive been told this size would not make a difference in a persons personal grid / pay back of electrical usuage. In fact not it seems till someone uses 3 times this power . Is everyone nuts or what! we have paid so much for power it should be in an interest account and now used for everyone that is how to run a country , NOT PRIVITASATION , which is whats happened here and why people are crying poor.
AUSTRALIA The Lucky Country ? Not for a whyle it is not.not any more.

By: ΩikΩσ

ΩikΩσ — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:21:50 +0000

Biggest problem is availability of sunshine in the UK. Do you get enough to warrant the fuss or financial layout? Another problem is the orientation of your roof. Facing directly south, with a slope (in degrees) equal to your longitude would be ideal.

As far as electricity goes, you have to be tied into the grid to take care of the times you are not generating all the power you need. When you are generating more than you need, you sell it but get paid at the rate the utility normally pays, a lot less than you would pay to buy from them. Still, it’s something.