PV Gap

Gerald Said:

What are the implications of requiring builders and designers of new buildings to install solar panels?

We Answered:

Short run: the price of a house will increase an may out price some people trying to buy houses. The price of solar panel and installing them on existing building will increase perhaps out pricing some who want to install them.
Long run: decrease energy consumption and lowering the price of energy compared to what it would have been without the regulation. May spur investment in panel production and technology lowering LR cost of installation perhaps leading to more existing building having panels but farther out in the future. May pull investment from other alternative energy sources slowing technological advancements in them.

Mabel Said:

Are you allowed to install solar panels yourself?

We Answered:

It is in California. In other places, I have no idea. In some states like Florida, I believe it's legal to connect your own, but you invalidate your state rebate. I think.

I put up our own panels about 3 years ago. Permission was needed from the electric company. Also, an electrical permit from the city. If the roof was being redone at the same time, there would have been a roofing permit, too. And I had to go through inspections, not too bad. There was also paperwork to fill out for the rebate, which would have been filled out by the contractor if I had simply hired someone. Do consider carefully whether you are up to this kind of stuff before you go the DIY route.

http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/roderick/so…

Nelson Said:

Where can I find an electrician to install solar panels on roofs with me for less than $1000 per day?

We Answered:

the barefoot college can help do this http://www.barefootcollege.org/prog_sola…
"Barefoot solar engineers have installed solar photovoltaic (SPV) home lighting systems and fabricated produced solar lanterns ... The results include:

Solar electrifying 300 adult education centres.
Solar electrifying 870 schools across the country.
3530 solar lanterns manufactured at the College.
28 villages have 40 Kws of solar panels that provide three hours of light in the bleakest winter to 1530 families.
In Leh and Kargil districts, solar energy initiatives have saved a total of 97,000 litres of kerosene.
392 rural youth including women trained as barefoot solar engineers with absolutely no aid from urban professionals.
350 villages and hamlets(clusters) have been covered where a total number of 12000 households have been solar electrified.
195,000 litres of kersoene saved, by replacing generators and oil lanterns with solar power.
All solar panels have been installed, maintained and repaired by the village people without the assistance of any paper qualified engineer."