Tuesday, December 21, 2010

What Problems Do Homeowners Experience With DIY Solar Panels?



Installing Solar Panel with DIY (DO IT YOURSELF) is not an easy task. More homeowners than ever want to participate in green energy to avoid rising utility costs. There continues, however, to be certain barriers to homeowners installing do it yourself solar panels, associated not so much with the actual install process, but things many may not have considered ranging from their actual return on investment to whether or not the product is really "green."

Cost Comparisons - Return on Investment

The elevated cost of installing conventional solar panels has always been a problem! With a possible install cost of $20,000 to $30,000, the standard break even point on this investment is roughly 15 years and many families do not reside in the same location for longer than seven years. Given this it is hardly surprising that more people are choosing to construct their own solar panels as a way lower costs and therefore increase their return on investment.

Direct Sunlight Required

Conventional solar panels require large numbers to be installed in order to gain the amount of energy necessary to sufficiently manage a family's energy needs. An entire roof becomes a continuous lineup of panels and the house must be situated in the right direction to gain sufficient benefit from the install. Homes have not, for the most part, been located with the primary consideration of energy conservation or the possible future installation of solar panels. As a result this can make the install unsightly on an otherwise beautifully designed home.

Geographic location also plays a large part in whether or not the panels are the best choice for energy conservation. Some parts of the world just do not have as much sunlight on a regular basis--cloudy weather, rain, fog and the like plays havoc with efficient energy production with solar panels.

Other Problems to Consider

Affordability is not the only consideration in electing whether or not to install solar panel kits. For some homeowners, it is the opportunity to participate in protecting our environment by responsibly using renewable energy sources. Unfortunately, in the process of manufacturing the units, and ultimately in disposing of those which need replaced, a certain amount of pollution is created in that process.

Technology is changing at a speed most of us cannot keep up with. The majority of these developments are being made with conventional energy sources in mind. One must question the possible problems of integrating new technologies and solar energy without additional cost.

There is probably not a product around that does not require maintenance and replacement. I am sure some homeowners will encounter problems with both of these issues at sometime or another. After all, solar panels are installed in a high risk area - a slanted roof, and limited budgets may get a shock when it comes time to replace something the owner initially did not think to consider as having limited life.

In summary, all of these factors are simply things to keep in mind as potential pitfalls, and certainly none of them should put you off going ahead with your project. The bottom line is that when you construct and install your own do it yourself Solar Panels you need to ensure you have made all decisions at each step of the procedure from an informed perspective.


Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Problems-Do-Homeowners-Experience-With-Do-It-Yourself-Solar-Panels?&id=5002494

1 comment:

  1. Commenting on posts is not my thing, but I just cannot resist here. Your post is awesome and helpful! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete