PV Gap

Jay Said:

Does the heat bounce back from solar panel? Will it create more global warming if all roofs are solar paneled?

We Answered:

don k is right. except solar thermal panels absorb heat to, of course, to heat water. to even think that solar panels heat up so much to attribute to global warming has to be the most idoitic, clueless question i have ever read. we are all dumber to have read it. does your hot breath cause global warming? It gets hot under your arm pits and behind your legs, must be melting ice bergs with that body heat, right?

Albert Said:

Do Homeowners' Associations generally permit Solar Panels on residents' roofs?

We Answered:

Unfortunately, Texas isn't the most solar friendly government in the country. As far as I could see, there are no solar access laws prohibiting agencies from prohibiting solar. There are some federal rules being proposed, but they won't help you yet. Here's a great article about HOA and solar, http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blog…

I think a lot would depend on if the solar panels would be on the front or the back of the house. Where is south? If it is in your back yard, you might be good.

You do have a 30% tax credit available from the federal government to help pay for a solar installation, but TX doesn't have a state one. Some of the local utilities do, check out the DSIRE web site to see if there is one in your area. http://dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm…

Your best bet to start with may be energy conservation. Have an energy audit done on your house to see if there are ways you can save on wasted electricity. It is 4x more cost effective to conserve energy than make it with solar. You don't have to pay for what you don't use.

Sam Said:

If you use solar panel roofs during the day, what happens at night?

We Answered:

Nothing, no electricity is generated.

Also on rainy days, nothing. You need direct sunlight for them to work.

That is why solar-powered stuff needs batteries to smooth out the power gaps.