cost of installing solar panels?

[shireen]

I'm totally clueless about this ... how much does it cost to install solar panels for electricity on a rooftop or on a platform in the garden?
And a really dumb question -- does a heavy snow load cause damage?

I'm asking because i have to buy a house (currently renting, but complex is being converted to condos!) later this year, and I'm very concerned about energy costs.

thanks,
shireen

[Lorien]

1. You might want to wait a year or so for these:

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=116&art_id=vn20060211110132138C184427

[shireen]

2. wow! thanks!

that is really cool ... i hope they start marketing it soon. Meanwhile, I'd still like to learn more about conventional solar panels and other ways to minimize energy costs. I grow African violets and aquatic plants so I have lots of fluorescent lights running. Plus they need to be maintained in a suitable temperature range so heating and cooling are going to be a big issue. Also, I want to start up some indoor hydroponics projects so that means burning my 400W metal halide. Lots and lots of electricity to use! LOL!

[NJCher]

3. that's fascinating, Lorien

Thanks for posting it. I was considering solar panels but I think I will wait.




Cher

[jpak]

4. It depends on your needs and means

The easiest way to use solar to cut your electric bill is to invest in a solar hot water system.

Electric hot water heaters typically use 4500-5500 kWh per year (~$4-500 per year).

A solar hot water system plumbed into an existing hot water system could provide 65-100% of you hot water (depending on where you live).

They cost between $3500-5000 installed (before any state rebate or federal tax credit).

http://www.sunwisesolarus.com/

The smallest plug-and-play grid intertie photovoltaic system on the market (0.48 kW) costs ~$4800 (again before any state rebate or federal tax credit).

http://www.bluelinksolar.net/fmain.html

It would produce enough electricity (>500 kWh per year) to run an Energy Star rated fridge (which typically consume ~400 kWh per year and cost ~$700) and then some.

Snow loads don't damage either systems (but its a good idea to keep them clear).

With a solar hot water system, a BlueLink PV system and an Energy Star fridge - you could significantly reduce your electrical demand for <<$10K - and you wouldn't have to do it all at once...

[shireen]

5. thank you.

that's really neat. i'll have to research it more....

[Massacure]

6. Lorien's link is pretty cool isn't it.

It will be interesting to see how this impacts the economies of solar panels in the real world.