How Can I Put Solar Panels on My Home Cheaply?

Solar panels facilitate the production of electricity from the sun's energy.

Solar panels are made up of photo cells that use the sun's energy to create electricity. They can be power sources in commercial and residential facilities. While using energy from the sun is theoretically less expensive than purchasing energy through a traditional means like your local power supply company, according to a "New York Times" article, it might take more than 20 years to break even on the investment depending on your home's needs. Fortunately there are a few ways that you can install a solar panel system on your home for a fraction of the cost.

Instructions

1. Determine your power needs. Many factors will determine how much power your house will need to run using solar energy. Factors such as the amount of electricity your house traditionally uses, how much sun your geographical location receives and the direction your house faces should all be considered. To be most cost-effective, examine your electricity bills to determine your average daily electricity use in watts. Once you determine your daily wattage use, divide that number by the number of hours of sunlight that your geographical location receives. Be sure to repeat the calculation over multiple seasons, so you can account for days when there are shorter periods of sunlight. The average number will determine how much solar energy you will need per day and how many panels you will need to support it.

2. Factor in heating efficiency. Using the solar panel system to heat your home can be one of the most costly aspects. According to the U.S. Department of Energy using a solar panel system that is programmable to provide anywhere from 40 to 80 percent of your heat is best. Providing less than 40 percent of a home's heat (which means that 60 percent would come from the more costly power source) does not make economic sense, while providing 100 percent of the heat is not practical. The Department of Energy also suggests that it is useful to have proper insulation of your home, so fewer solar panels are needed and it will also make passive solar energy more effective.

3. Check with your local government. There are a number of government-sponsored rebates, tax credits and incentive programs that can help with solar panel costs. For example, as of 2010, the Internal Revenue Service offers a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of the on-site preparation or installation of a solar panel system to your residence. According to energy incentive information available through New York City's government website, residential property owners can receive a tax abatement of 8.75 percent .

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that even slight damage to solar panels can reduce their efficiency. Solar panels with severe damage can be unsafe and should be properly disposed of. If you are building or installing your own solar panels, you should always have a licensed electrician check your work.

References

• "New York Times": Financially, Solar Power for the Home Is a Tough Sell
• U.S. Department of Energy: Active Solar Heating
• Nyc.gov: Property Tax Abatement for Green Roofs and Solar Electric Generating Systems
• IRS: Residential Energy Credits