As you drive around New England, you might be noticing the presence of solar panels on more and more homes. With many traditional energy supplies dwindling, dirty, or expensive, businesses and homeowners alike are considering energy alternatives. Some homeowners are taking advantage of programs designed to facilitate the collection of solar energy for household use.
As with any energy resource, there are both advantages and disadvantages to converting a home to solar power. Here are a few considerations to take into account if you're thinking of going solar:
•Equipment Cost. Even though some states have programs in place to provide tax incentives for converting to solar energy, it can still cost a pretty penny to install the collectors. Both materials and installation figure into upfront costs, and it might take a while to see enough savings to recoup the initial investment. As a homeowner, you should do a bit of research to try to determine just how soon you might get a return on your investment – and whether it will be a steep enough energy savings to prove worthwhile.
•Configuration and location. Every home is different. Depending upon where you live, the topography of your area or the way in which your home is situated on your property might or might not make sense for a conversion to solar energy. Your roof will need to be large enough to accommodate the number of solar panels necessary to generate power, and will also need to be strong enough to support the panels. Your solar array will need to access the sun on a regular basis, so shaded areas with lots of tree cover won't see as much of a benefit from the addition of solar collectors. On the other hand, homes with access to consistent sunlight are good candidates to harness solar power.
•Aesthetics and codes. Before investigating too deeply into solar energy, make sure that you aren't part of an HOA or other organization that has guidelines against the installation of outdoor features that might include solar panels. Even if you aren't part of an HOA, you should check into local building codes to make sure that your community does not impose restrictions against such collectors. Are you going to upset the neighbors who are accustomed to looking at your pristine roof? It's important to think through the ramifications of how your house will look once the panels are in place.
Solar power might not be right for everyone, but it is a clean, sustainable, and a readily available resource that can provide tremendous energy savings to businesses and homeowners. If you're interested in learning more, do a little Internet research to see about the viability of solar power in your area and whether you might qualify for any special programs to assist with the installation of a solar energy system for your home.
Would you like to know more? Visit www.andoverhomes.com for more information.
