PV Gap

Salvador Said:

What are the drawbacks to using wind turbines or solar panels for providing all power to a home?

We Answered:

A is the best of your four, for your question, but since individual wind and solar power generate power to a battery, which is the direct source of power to your house, you can store up enough power to maintain your electrical usage, through the winter, power outages, and you can sell some access back to the Community Power Company.

If enough households demand an individual windmill and solar panel, the initial costs will come down to reasonable expense!!

Margaret Said:

I want to power my new home I am building on solar power alone what will the cost be roughly?

We Answered:

I doubt this is realistically possible- the battery storage required would be tremendous. This is why net-metering is available in most parts of the country. You want to be connected to the grid but able to generate your own power.

Just size your panels appropriately and look for other design ideas to minimize your electricity demand;

geothermal HVAC
daylighting
super-insulation

Daryl Said:

Cost to turn my home into a solar powered system?

We Answered:

You will be looking at $20,000 (US) for a pretty basic solar paneling set up. This will allow you to run a few lights, and use a few basic kitchen appliances.
Solar panels themselves are actually coming down in price. The most expensive part of the system is the battery unit where the energy is transformed into useable power.
Hope that helps!
-J
http://badhuman.wordpress.com

Cody Said:

does anyone know if using home solar power is worth it?

We Answered:

The reason people do not use it is because it is expensive. Most solar panels cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. What most people do not know is that there are tax credits that can be earned from using renewable energy sources. These credits can help pay for some of the cost of the solar panels. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=pr…

Another option is to build your own solar panels or wind turbine. It really only takes some initiative. Most people dismiss this option because it seems like only the scientists and engineers can build these seemingly magical sources of energy. A little research reveals that all wind turbines are just spinning magnets with wire around them. The concept is elementary. As for solar panels, purchasing the silicon mixture (the blue metal) and attaching it to the other components is still cheaper than buying one already done, but like I said, it takes some initiative. http://tiny.cc/solarandwind

Another solar power option, is a solar water heater. It is a great way that is not complicated at all. It is simple: the heater uses the sun's power to heat the water, with no gas or coal. Like the solar panels and wind turbine, a solar water heater can also be built for a lower cost. http://dwarfurl.com/c1222

I already use this technology. I decided to build my own solar panel and was successful. Now it works well, and it helps take some of the electricity cost away. I could not build the wind turbine though. My neighbors were not to happy with a large object obstructing their view. But if it works for you, go for it. As for the solar water heater, that was also successful. It does not heat water during low light hours, but saves me some bucks during a sunny day. I suggest you go for it, but start at looking at Energy Star's website on federal tax credits, or talk to your town/city about it.

Dorothy Said:

where can I buy affordable home Solar power?

We Answered:

Just keep in mind that solar panels are rated for their maximum output and provide said wattage under ideal conditions. So I would verify with a qualified supplier before going ahead. Cell phones are easily recharged with a Solio charger, just google it. Otherwise check this page, http://www.squidoo.com/thinfilmsolarpane… it tells a little more about the subject as well as listing a bunch of different suppliers.