6 Killer Facts About Building Your Own Solar Power System
A good place to begin when you start any project is to start with the question, what is my end goal? For example, if you've got one of Grandma's old dressers and you've decided to refinish it, it's good to know before you start what you're going to do with it when you're done. Is it going in your bedroom? If so, what does the rest of your furniture look like? Is every other piece of furniture the same wood, with a mahogany stain, or is it oak? Where do you plan to place it? Do you want this dresser to stand out or to blend in? When you're thinking about building your own solar system, solar energy facts, like: • Where do you live? This can help you determine if solar is even a feasible option for you. If you live where it's dark and cloudy most of the time, and/or you experience extreme variations in temperatures, solar may not be the answer. That doesn't of course, mean you shouldn't explore it, but both passive and active solar energy power systems require sunlight. You may find other renewable energy options will work, but solar just won't. To get the facts on how much you can benefit through solar energy, find an expert in your area. Get an assessment of the best systems, and available options that would work specifically for your setting. • Are you building a solar system for your home or your business? Review the facts on both the state and federal level about any incentives and rebates offered. For example, did you know the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 provides a 30% investment tax credit (through December 31, 2016) for solar energy investments for homeowners with no cap, with the exception of solar water heating, which has a $2,000 cap. For commercial property, there is also a 30% ITC through December 31, 2016. And, there is a permanent accelerated depreciation allowance. Plus, there is also a building deduction for commercial buildings. Add to that any rebates, state incentives, and utility incentives on net metering (getting credit for excess electricity generated by your system that is sent back to the utility for others to use). • Do you plan to build an entire solar system to meet all of your heating, cooling and lighting needs, or something much less? This will require some looking at both your commitment to the environment...your current budget...and a good cost/benefit analysis. If you really want to have a full solar system, first – determine the net cost of installation. If it's an active solar system installation, you'll have the cost of the installed solar panels, plus any operating equipment required (batteries, inverters and wires...). Don't stop there. Deduct any federate, state, city, and utility rebates. (and if it's commercial, in addition to the accelerated depreciation deduction there are undoubtedly other city and state rebates or credits). Add any solar equity property increases ($15-$20 for every dollar saved in energy costs) and then you'll begin to see the picture of your net cost. When you've got all of those figures, it's a lot easier to get a loan. And...you may just qualify for a government loan. Certainly worth asking, wouldn't you say? Now, if your budget just isn't going to allow you to do a lot, that's OK, too. Adding a solar hot water heater will reduce your power bill. And, the payback period's getting shorter and shorter as the costs go down. See if you can maximize your placement to make the system expandable, put your energy savings into a separate account, and when you can afford it, get the rest of the system. Before you decide, though, be sure to see if there is a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) in your state, or a program for Property Assessed Clean Energy, both programs designed to make solar even more affordable. • Will this be new construction or a replacement for an existing system? In most cases, putting a solar energy system into new construction is more cost effective than replacing an existing one. However, if your hot water heater, or your furnace need replacing anyway, this is a good time to look at your solar options. • Will you use passive and active solar, passive only or active only? This question applies most directly to new construction, but certainly could apply if you're considering a remodeling project. Either way, take advantage of any south-facing windows, or window installations, and remember to look at either and both as possible solar energy sources. Passive solar construction is currently about $5 to $10 higher per square foot, but active or passive, if you can go all solar, you won't have any power bill to pay. To determine your return on investment fairly quickly, look at average utility bills for similarly-sized houses in your area. And...did I mention, less (or no) moving parts for repair? • Do you plan to do the work yourself, or hire it done? Professional installation is still pretty expensive in most areas, but before you start the work yourself, check out all of the regulations for your area on what it takes to obtain the tax credits, incentives and rebates. If you're a good do-it-yourselfer, and decide to do the work yourself, you may be able to do even better than what you could get back from all the current incentives...or not. Be sure to do the math first. As you go along, you'll find many more questions of your own, but these are a few good beginning questions that can help you make good decisions before you start. Go find some solar energy facts to determine what's right for you. By the way, it's a fact that solar energy is renewable...and that using it will decrease your carbon footprint.
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