PV Gap

April Said:

How do you transform your home to use solar power>?

We Answered:

You buy solar panels, installation hardware for your roof, an inverter, batteries, a rack to put the batteries and inverter into, and possibly a transfer switch if you don't want to be completely dependant on the local power utility.

These websites have tutorials that give a lot more details:

http://www.solarhome.org/solarlearningce…
http://www.professorshouse.com/your-home…
http://www.wholesalesolar.com/informatio…

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Edith Said:

What is the cheapest way to harness solar and wind energy to power your home?

We Answered:

One of the cheapest ways is to take advantage of any passive solar energy you can. If you have any south-facing windows, keep those curtains open all day to warm your home.

Solar hot water can be done very cheaply with a simple system that uses coiled black hoses on your roof. You pump the water up into the hose, it warms as it flows through the hose on the roof, then back down to be used as warm water. (that is a very simplistic explanation, but you get the idea)

For about $200 - $250, you can get yourself set up with a solar panel system or a wind power system, if you're willing to learn how to do it yourself. This is the method that will save you the most money in the long run, as it will eliminate your power bills. You can get the installation guide to do this here: http://www.solar-powered-home.com/solarp…

Esther Said:

Does anyone know anything about solar power to power your small home?

We Answered:

Photovoltaic cells come in a wide range of types and applications and the first thing you need to do is determine what your needs will be. Next you need to decide what style you want to have. The latest greatest cell comes in a roof shingle style that can be placed within the rows of shingles as they go up your roof. Done properly they blend in quite well and leave less of a eyesore for others to see. however no matter which style of cell you choose you will need to consider the cost for such a set up. your completed set up could run anywhere from 10,000 to well over 80,000 depending on what your power needs are. This is a onetime expense though and if you complete your system so that you can disconnect from the power grid you will save thousand of dollars over the years and the system will pay for itself. That said it is not the money savings that should inspire a person to invest in photovoltaics but rather the enviroment savings that go along with the lover CO2 emmisions and the waste created in the mining and burning of the coal used at most power plants.

There are plenty of websites that can help you find what you want to know as far as price and installation and the different specifications on the many kinds of solar cells. Good luck.