How to Build Solar Power for Free
Since solar power usually entails high initial costs, you may be looking for solar power that is free. Free solar-power equipment can make solar energy a viable alternative and with proper installation can help ease your dependence on local utilities. If you've had a professional solar assessment and have determined your house is energy efficient and ready for supplemental solar power, start looking for free solar power equipment. Free solar power is available to both commercial enterprises and residential owners. With a little effort you can obtain all the solar power you'd like --- at little or no cost to you. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Obtain used solar equipment. Commercial solar power units that become cracked or damaged in any way are often given away by companies who don't want an inefficient panel on their array. A cracked solar panel, however, still generates electricity, albeit at a lower rate. Damaged or used panels still generate amps and are still capable of supplying your home with low-cost electricity. Since damaged solar panels are extremely expensive to dispose of, many companies will give them to you for free in order to save costs. A great deal --- you get free solar power, and they save on expensive recycling costs.
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Ask your local utility company, solar-panel installers or even your mortgage company if there are any rebate programs in your area. Some large real estate and mortgage-financing companies will supplement government grants and provide you with free solar power for your home. Check with your lender and your local library as to whether or not supplemented solar power is available in your area.
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Check to see if your state has net metering services. This means that the state has mandated that the electric company install power meters that will transfer power from your home to the utility company for resale. If so, you may qualify for free solar power. Companies like Citizenre will come in and install a solar system for free. You then pay them for their investment in your house by paying them your regular utility bill rate. Eighty percent of the bill goes to pay for the solar power system and 20 percent is a regular utility bill. This pays for the initial cost of buying solar power and frees you from the responsibilities of maintenance and replacement. Check their website to see if your state has net metering (see Resources below).
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Call your local professional solar-power installer to see if they will help you qualify for government grants if you use their product. Some savvy solar installation companies will help you pay for your solar panels and systems by filing the paperwork for you.
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Consider investigating commercial solar power for your business. Oftentimes if you will provide either a series of highly rated solar sites such as rooftops or acreage you can find a commercial company that is willing to invest in the equipment in exchange for the right to resell the extra energy generated by your business or acreage to the power company.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Solar Panel image by kuhar from Fotolia.com
