Don’t forget solar energy incentives!

Federally, you may qualify to get 30 percent off your solar energy expenses. This rebate will come in the form of cash coming back to you at tax time. Additionally, you can look up local and state rebates on the 1BOG Solar cities page.

Do you like your neighbors?

Another way to save on solar energy costs is to start a community petition to become eligible for a group discount. Even one dollar per watt off could save you $3,000. One Block Off The Grid is organizing interested parties to leverage the cost of solar panel installations in select communities. Once 100 people sign up, the companies lobbies for a group discount.

Ever hear of home equity loans?

Some people are borrowing off their home mortgages today to be repaid dividends tomorrow. After the initial investment, solar energy panel installations generally pay themselves back within 10 to 15 years. For solar energy water heaters, the savings come much quicker, usually in 4 to 7 years. You might decide it’s in your best interest to buy now, while the government is still willing to dole out discounts.

The Appraisal Institute found that solar energy increases home value $20 for every dollar saved in electric costs. You’ll see savings on your electricity bill, plus you will not be at the mercy of the power companies’ rate increases. So why not consider how you can make a modest investment in residential solar energy to do your part for the planet?

1. State Rebates: Check the DSIRE website to see what your state offers. For example, the Arizona Public Service offers residents $1.75 per watt up to 50 percent of a project’s cost. Typically, homeowners with 5 watt systems receive $8,750 back.
2. Federal Tax Credits: Save on the purchase of a solar water heater and photovoltaic cell solar panel systems and recoup up to 30 percent of the cost! Best of all, these credits can be added to state rebate programs for even more savings.
3. Green Tags / Renewable Energy Certificates: States with Renewable Portfolio Standards allow you to buy or sell your extra solar home power.
4. Solar Power Purchase Agreements: Solar for home use can also be solar for community use. By investing in the technology and maintaining it on your property, you may be eligible to receive tax savings and other financial benefits. Consumers in California and Oregon are already seeing big checks in the mail.
5. FHA PowerSaver Loans: Want to have a solar house but can’t afford it? Good news — the Federal Housing Administration announced that, in 2011, it will be doling out loans up to $25,000 for qualified borrowers with equity in their homes. The loan period will be 15 to 20 years and interest rates have not yet been calculated, but they’re expected to be competitive.

As you can see, there are many ways to make the solar dream come true, without going broke or using all your own money to fund it. Your individual goal is also a fundamental American goal.

Absorber: The tinted surface that absorbs the solar radiation and converts it to heat energy.

Active System: A solar heating or cooling system that requires its own external mechanical transmitting equipment to move collected heat

Ambient Temperature: The temperature of the air surrounding the solar energy system.

Auxiliary Heat: Extra heat provided by a traditional heating system during periods of cloudiness, inclement weather or intense cold when a solar power unit cannot provide enough power.

Coefficient of Heat Transmission: The hourly rate of heat loss in British Thermal Units when the difference between indoor and outdoor air temperature is 1 degree Fahrenheit.

Collector Efficiency: The ratio of usable heat energy taken from a solar collector to the amount of solar energy striking the surface.

Converter – An electrical apparatus that can change the quality or quantity of electrical energy.

Degree Day: A unit that represents a fall of 1 degree below the specified average outdoor temperature (usually 18°C or 65°F) for one day.

Diffuse Radiation: Indirect sunlight scattered by water vapor, dust and air molecules.

Direct Radiation: Direct sunlight straight from the sun, resulting in shadows cast on a clear day.

Grid-Connected System – A photovoltaic array acts as a central generator, supplying power to an electric grid system.

Headers: The pipe running across the edge of the solar collector array, which gathers or distributes the heat transfer fluid and maintains pressure.

Heat Exchanger: A coiled copper tube immersed in a water tank that transfers heat from one fluid to another.

Heat Storage Capacity: The amount of heat that can be stored.

Hybrid Solar Energy System: A renewable energy system that uses both active and passive methods.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh): A measure of electrical energy equaling power consumption of 1,000 watts for 1 hour.

Megawatt – A unit of measurement equaling 1,000 Kilowatts or 1 million watts. One megawatt can power approximately 1,000 California homes.

Passive Solar Energy System: A solar power system that uses no external mechanical power to move heat.

Percentage of Possible Sunshine: The percentage of daylight hours where there is enough direct solar radiation to cast a shadow.

This is one of the main considerations homeowners have when deliberating whether to install solar energy systems or not. The Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory hoped to clear up some of the confusion in an April 2011 report titled, “An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California.” Researchers looked at homes sold from 2000 through 2009 to see whether the resale value was affected by solar energy systems. They found, in a nutshell, YES… solar energy systems DO increase home values. Let’s take a look at some of the more detailed findings, though.

On average, a California home with a 3,100 watt solar energy system adds a $17,000 premium to the property.

Why Do Homes With Solar Energy Systems Cost More?

1. Homeowners are willing to pay more initially if their “carrying costs” (utility bills) are much lower.
2. Homeowners are willing to pay for the social status of having progressive solar energy systems.

Who Recoups More With Solar Energy Systems – New Builders or Private Sellers?

Interestingly enough, researchers found that individual sellers recoup more of their solar energy systems’ costs because they’re not afraid to charge more. On the other hand, builders may earn their reputation by differentiating themselves as a “green” builder, so they are less likely to charge a premium. Instead, they build energy efficiency into their basic business model to meet with increasing customer standards.

Retrofitted California homes paid $5/watt more for the privilege of having a solar-powered home, while NEW construction homes with solar energy systems only paid $4/watt more because energy efficiency is rapidly becoming the norm.

How Popular Are Solar Energy Systems In California?

• California is the ideal state for solar energy systems with 200+ days of sunshine per year.
• In 2010, 880 megawatts of solar energy systems were installed and connected to the grid.
• 30 percent of the solar energy systems in California is residential.
• California is the nation’s leader in solar installations with 100,000 solar energy systems installed.
• There is still another 1,000 megawatts of capacity in the state.
• Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento and Santa Clara have the most solar energy systems.

Why Do People Go Solar?

Most California owners of solar energy systems say they decided to “go solar” so they could reduce high electricity bills. Others wanted to increase the market value of their homes. Generally speaking, Californians as a whole really care about their environment as well, so many homeowners are looking to buy solar energy systems to protect the planet, cut down on fossil fuel consumption, reduce global warming and keep toxins out of our atmosphere.

• Traditional homes sold for $584,740 on average. Solar energy systems homes sold for $660,222.
• Traditional homes depreciated 1.4% on average. Solar energy systems homes appreciated 3.2%.

Their original budget for their 2,700-square-foot custom solar powered home and adjacent 700-square-foot mother-in-law apartment was $275,000, but when all was said and done, they spent $350,000 – which is still pretty cheap when you consider what went into this home’s construction. Geothermal systems use the 54 degree ground temperature to heat and cool the home. In the winter, a wood burning stove provides additional heat, although they say the corn-based foam insulation helps considerably. A five kilowatt solar panel provides most of the electricity in the solar powered home and apartment, the Jeantys say. They’re still tied to the grid for after-dark power, but their electric bill is mere pennies a day. They also sell excess power back to the local power company.

To save money on their solar powered home, the couple used foundation made out of concrete blocks and vinyl exterior siding. They also reused a number of components from their old dilapidated house – windows, doors, wood from the floor, kitchen cabinets and bathroom fixtures. Even though the house was unique and one-of-a-kind, Clarion Homes agreed to work on the project, which came out wonderfully, according to The Tennessean.

Project #1: Solar Oven

Did you know you can build an outdoor solar cooker for $40? This fun family project is practical for barbecues, as well as camping trips.

Project #2: Solar Powered Cell Phone Charger

Do you have an Altoids tin, small solar cell, electrical tape, velcro, plug-in charger, soldering iron, voltage meter and hack saw blade? Alright, Macguyver, you’re ready to build your own solar-powered cell phone charger!

Project #3: Solar Water Heater

Don’t you hate it when the hot water runs out? Keep your showers hot by building your own inexpensive solar water heater and save money on your home energy bills too!

Project #4: Solar Pool Heater

How would you like to use your pool on that first hot day following a stretch of cooler weather? Solar covers have been around for decades, but they never seem to work fast enough. This DIY solar panel heater makes your pool and comfortable oasis.

Project #5: Solar Powered Radio

Do you have $5 and a love for music? Then a solar radio is the perfect weekend project for you. Simply hook up a small cell to a portable radio for the next trip to the beach.

Project #6: Solar Cell

Are you ready to build your own solar cell that can power just about anything? As you’ll note, most of these projects require a solar cell to start, so you may as well learn how to build one from scratch!

Project #7: Solar Powered Landscape Lighting

Did you know mason jars make great solar landscape lighting? Improve the curb appeal of your home by taking in power by day and illuminating by night.

Project #8: Solar Greenhouse

Is your thumb green? A greenhouse is a naturally heat conductor, but you can make your gardening efforts even more efficient with this weekend solar panel project.

Project #9: Solar Powered Walkway

Do you love to be on the cutting edge of solar power? How cool would it be to have your pathway light up using glass blocks, sun jars and solar panels?

Project #10: Solar Powered Generator

Are you ready to take your solar tinkering to the next level? Building your own solar powered generator for under $300 can improve the efficiency of all your solar panels, minimize power loss and even charge a few things.

A solar electric system adds value to your home and is a good way to improve your property while also producing clean, quiet energy that will last for many years.

There is a sense of independence that many people seek which can be found in producing your own electricity.  This reduces the amount of electricity that must be purchased from the utility and prevents you from being at the mercy of future price increases.  Rather than buying energy you make it yourself!

If you are building a home in an area that is out of reach of an established utility service, an off-grid system may be less expensive than having a utility line extended to your home making it a better choice practically, economically and environmentally.

Solar energy is considered to be the energy choice for the future and, while technology will surely improve, it will not do so at such a rate that makes buying now unwise.  What you are really doing is getting in on something beneficial now that other people may not understand the value of until later, meaning you start saving money today!