Q:
Due to the high cost of energy, my husband and I would like to consider
converting to solar. Could you please give us an overview of how it works, how
much it costs and whether it’s feasible?
A:
There are two main ways to use the power of the sun to reduce energy costs in
your home. You can use the heat from the sun’s rays to heat your home or your
domestic hot water, or to produce electricity to power lights and appliances.
Other people have written some very good books about using
solar energy in both renovations and new construction of homes. (See the list at
the end of this article for some good ones.) So in the small amount of space
available here, we’ll give you the very basics as well as some things to think
about.
Rather than spreading energy payments over a long period of
time, as with natural gas or electricity, a solar system places all the costs up
front. However, once the system is paid for, the sun doesn’t charge for its
energy, so the pay-back begins.
The initial costs (and, hence, the pay-back timeline) will
depend on the purpose, type and size of the solar system you choose. And that
will depend on your budget, as well as the size of your family, your lifestyle,
your geographic location and the way your house is situated. However, an
increasing number of governments are offering financial incentives to encourage
homeowners to switch to solar, so you’ll need to research what’s available in
your area.
Heating Hot Water
You are probably looking at a relatively high initial cost to
retrofit your home with a thermal space heating system. But just about anyone
whose house or yard is exposed to continuous sunlight can preheat their hot
water using solar energy, so that might be a good place to begin your solar
adventure. The initial cost is....
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