Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Solar-powered Homes Remain a Distant Dream for Many in the U.S.

Although the title of this article sounds a bit doom and gloom it really isn't. Capital today is flowing towards utility-scale renewable energy projects. This is a good thing. I'd rather have more renewable fuels in my utility's portfolio than fossil fuels. However, as the article states there are other options besides the traditional owner-financed solar photovoltaic (PV) array on a residential rooftop. The market for leasing solar panels is growing fast. This is an attractive option for those homeowners who can't afford the upfront capital costs for PV modules, inverter, and the labor to install it. However, for those that like to buy rather than lease, the cost of PV is dropping each year. PV will be competitive with traditional fossil fuels soon.

The last thing I'd like to mention, which always seems to get overlooked in renewable energy discussions and articles is something less sexy, but is the best bang for your buck - energy efficiency. Making a residential or commercial building use the least amount of energy possible is where the smart money is. A quicker return on investment (ROI) can be realized by completing energy efficiency projects such as caulking, insulation, low-flow shower heads, Energy Star appliances, efficient HVAC systems, and the cheapest of measures - behavioral change (turning off lights when leaving the room or taking shorter showers). Once the building is enhanced to use the least amount of energy possible, there is a really good chance that you won't need as many solar PV modules on your roof and therefore won't need to finance as much. Energy efficiency is low-hanging fruit.

16 comments:

farzanakhan said...

there is a really good chance that you won't need as many solar PV modules on your roof and therefore won't need to finance as much.

Penny Stock Blog said...

The time will come when solar energy will be cheaper than buying your electric from an electric utility.

Frank Hendon said...

Nowadays, a lot of things are powered by solar energy. In the near future, I think you'll see one of those solar-powered houses.

Allie said...

Some residential home builders have taken the initiative on this issue. Many homes constructed in recent years have made the most of solar power.

Home builder perth said...

It's definitely a good but very expensive plan. You can just imagine the cost of R & D alone. If successful though, it would definitely be a milestone for alternative energy sources.

Kyle Xanders said...

I am really hoping that solar-powered homes will become a commonplace not just in the States but around the globe. This helps serves energy and environmentally-friendly.

solar panels norfolk

Kyle Xanders said...

Building solar-powered houses is really expensive. It needs proper construction consulting and planning.

Michael Johnsons said...

I think using solar panel for your home would really increase its value. Buyers would prefer these kinds of homes rather than the traditional. It's a good real estate investment.

new homes for sale

Caulking said...

Solar-powered houses are the top notch in terms of power saving and eco friendly too.

electric motor repairs said...

A lot of people still do not resort to getting solar energy panels because of the high price. In addition to the price of the solar panel is the cost of labor in installing the equipment. There should be a proper connection of wiring to the solar source to prevent damage to the motor engines of your appliances and equipment.

moving companies long island said...

Studying the projected maintenance cost would be a good idea if you're thinking about this. By doing so, you can more or less see if it's worth the hefty investment.

Michael Johnsons said...

Solar powered homes are really great. I think they add value to your home. I hope offices and other establishment would be solar-powered as well to conserve energy.

makati office space

Ray "Spike" Andrews said...

You are correct. Sadly, it is only about 1% of US energy that is currently harvested from Solar Sources. At least utilities are catching on.

Unknown said...

Yes, definitely a person looking for a house main concern is first to find a livable home that could accommodate him and his family and second is to be protected from any kind of suppression or abuse, so I'm suggesting that they better study all the related laws that protects and ensure the safety of homeowners such as the florida condo law.

Res Course said...

Great informative site. I'm really impressed after reading this blog post. I really appreciate the time and effort you spend to share this with us! I do hope to read more updates soon.

New Punggol Condos said...

Great Post. I have not been visiting the site recently. Took a visit again and there were some great comments on the site. Excellent post. Keep up the good work.

Wishful Thinking

*Before adding PV, wind, or solar thermal to your residential or commercial structure, the first step is to analyze this structure's energy consumption through a professional energy audit. I'd like to see some public education on the importance of an energy audit for any structure. Remember Smokey the Bear's forest fire shtick drilled into our heads over the last few decades? How about something like, "Henry the House" desperately wanting to know how much energy he consumes and wastes throughout the day?

*With over 300 sunny days a year on the Front Range is it too much to ask for solar PV and thermal modules on every residential and commercial unit (after an energy audit of course)?


*How about affordable plug-in electric cars that go more than 100 miles on a charge with PV and wind powered recharging stations?

*Dreaming of companies large and small adopting business sustainability practices to maximize profits, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance the lives of their employees and the communities that surround them.

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