1.  Tap into Solar Incentives

One of my favorite resources is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), which lists state rebates and solar power incentive programs, as well as information on federal solar incentives.  The site is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  There, you can find information on state, local, utility and federal incentive programs that can help you cut the cost of residential solar panel installations by as much as 60-80% off the retail cost.

Thinking of making a switch to solar power?

2.  Determine how Much Grid-Based Electricity You Can Offset with Solar

Here is another tool from the U.S. government that can help you switch to solar power.  Part of your analysis will be to determine how much electricity you use at home, and then how much you can offset with solar.  The website of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) includes statistics about the amount of electricity the average American home demands.  In addition, check out the Energy Department‘s information about considerations to make before going solar.

3.  Find the Best Solar Panel Manufacturers

This may be surprising, but you can find the top solar manufacturers in the U.S. on Wikipedia.  The site includes a list, put together based on an annual report by Photon Magazine.  Additional information on annual solar manufacturer rankings is found at Solar Buzz.

4.  Log onto Solar Chat

These days, you can find a chat room on just about any topic!  Why not connect with other people that are thinking about going solar, or who have already made the switch?  Try the online forum at Solar Panel Talk.  You can find people to chat with on DIY solar panels, going off-grid, solar panel leases and purchasing/installing conventional residential solar systems.

5.  Use a Solar Price Calculator

Online calculators can help you determine how many solar panels you will need for your energy demands and what a system will cost.  There are a number of solar price calculators available and you can find links to many of them at CalFinder.

Net Zero Energy House with Solar Panels

This amazing house in Ann Arbor, Michigan (shown to the left) is 110 years old and yet operates without the use of any grid-based electricity.  Its owners decided to install solar panels for a net zero energy house.

While net zero homes (residences that generate all the power required for their operation on site) are becoming more popular, the home above is the oldest net zero energy home in the U.S.

Following extensive refurbishing and retrofitting, the roof is covered in solar panels that generate 12,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) each year.  Of that, only 10,000 kWh was required to keep things running and the balance was fed back into the grid via net metering.

If you are considering installing solar panels on your home this year, keep in mind that prices are lower than ever – about 50% less than just a few years ago.  In addition, solar tax rebates and other incentives will be phased out in the near future, so act now!

This net zero energy house cost about $47,000 to renovate, saving the owners thousands each year on utility bills.  In addition to rooftop solar panels, additional insulation was installed, along with insulated glass.  Low pressure plumbing minimizes water usage, too.

To learn more about net zero energy houses and how these Michigan homeowners installed solar panels on their 110-year old home, watch this video:

Consider a DIY solar panel kit

For many homeowners, the idea of switching to solar power is daunting from a cost and hassle standpoint.  But if you want to test the waters with renewable energy, why not start with a DIY solar panel kit?

Solar panel kits include everything you need to generate and use solar electricity:  solar panels, an inverter and charge controllers.

Its all in one box, which also contains step-by-step directions to help you install solar panels without hiring and paying for a professional solar installer.  Most people can complete the project in a weekend.

The advantages to going with DIY solar panel kits include: (1) lower cost; (2) flexibility – you can add more panels in the future as needed; and (3) the satisfaction of building your own solar panel array.

On the other hand, disadvantages of solar panels kits are: (1) limited or no warranty or support; (2) may not be permitted to tie into the grid for net metering; and (3) may not be fully eligible for solar tax rebates and incentives.

Have you installed your own DIY solar panel kit?  We’d love to hear your comments about advantages and/or disadvantages of these build-your-own solar kits.

How are your solar panels performing? Find out with an energy monitor smartphone application

Once you have made the investment to install solar panels, you’ll want to maximize their efficiency and output.  If shade, snow or technical issues are reducing the amount of solar electricity generated by the system, you’ll want to know right away.

You can now monitor your residential solar panel system with a smartphone application.  Its a home energy monitor right at your fingertips!  Developed by a solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer, SunPower, the Android application provides instant information for customers regarding: (1) energy output of a residential solar panel system, (2) their home’s energy usage (hourly, weekly or monthly) and (3) the ability to compare and share previous data.

Any SunPower customer can access this same information via the company’s website.  But the energy monitor application allows the kind of instantly available information so many of us desire so you can make adjustments to consumption or order repairs to your system, as necessary.

Perhaps the best feature of this new application is you can show off your significant savings via your residential solar panel system to your co-workers and friends — right from the palm of your hand on your smartphone!

Solar Panel Efficiency

Over the past 5 years, the price of solar panels has dropped dramatically while efficiency of solar arrays has increased significantly.

Yet, it appears that the renewable energy revolution continues to make life better and cleaner for many of us!  The University of Texas at Austin announced this month that one of its solar researchers has discovered a method to further double solar panel efficiency up to 60%!

Solar panel efficiency can be summarized as follows:  The term refers to the amount of solar energy that is converted to usable electricity after hitting a solar panel.  It does not need to be a bright, sunny day.  All you need is UV (ultraviolet) sunlight, filtered through clouds or even precipitation.  According to a recent article:

An issue with regular photovoltaic panels is that much of the energy delivered by sunlight results in the conversion of “hot” electrons, which are too high-energy to be converted to electricity in silicon and are instead lost as heat. University of Texas Chemistry professor Xiaoyang Zhu and his team discovered that an organic plastic semiconductor could double the number of electrons harvested out of one photon of sunlight.

Solar panel efficiency is currently about 30% for silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.  But solar technology indicates that this figure can at least double, to reach 66% efficiency.

The importance of this discovery is the potential of reaching grid parity – the point at which the cost of purchasing solar electricity is less than the price of fossil-fuel based power.

Reasons to Switch to Solar Power

Have you been thinking about installing a residential solar system?  Well, now is the time!  The cost of solar panels has dropped more than 40% this decade, and more and more people have changed to solar.

If you are still on the fence, consider these top reasons to switch to solar power:

1.  Reduce Your Electric Bill

Did you know that the average household in America spends over $1,400 each year on electricity?  The year 2010 marked the fifth consecutive year that utility rates have risen.  That means that homeowners are paying 20% more for electricity than they did only a half decade a ago.  Its time to keep more of that hard-earned cash for yourself, and protect against continued rising rates by switching to solar power.  In the first year following solar panel installation, most property owners realize 40% or more in electric bill savings.  These savings stay “locked in,” despite what happens to the economy and future electricity costs.

2. Take Advantage of Sunny Skies

Sunshine helps, but even brighter skies can generate ample solar electricity.  Generally speaking, solar panels are most efficient when exposed to direct sunlight.  However, ambient UV light is sufficient for solar panels to generate ample clean electricity.  If you are eligible for net metering, you can reduce your power bill to zero and even get paid for extra solar power generated during peak periods.

3. Take Advantage of Incentives

Currently, solar rebates and incentives offer  substantial savings on solar installation costs. The U.S. federal program can save you up to 30% off the retail cost to install a photovolatic (PV) solar power system. Most incentive programs have an expiration date, however.  In today’s political climate, continuation of many programs are uncertain.

4. Combat Rising Electricity Demands

Did you know that in the next 25 years, electricity demands will nearly double, according to a 2005 Energy Information Administration report.  Even though we are taking more and more steps to save energy, our consumption is increasing with the size of our homes, number of electronic devices and efforts to stay cool and comfortable year-round via HVAC.  By switching to solar power, you can off-set increasing demands, as well as cut down on energy demands through the insulating effects of installing solar panels on your roof.

5. Save the Environment

It is hard to continue to explain away the bizarre weather experienced around the world over the past decade.  Global climate change is real and its time to step up efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.  Switching to solar power can significantly help.

Wait another 10-15 years, and it might be too late to reverse the trend.

Grape Solar panels at Costco

If you are into DIY home improvement projects and have considered residential solar panels, it might be time to head to your local Costco warehouse store.  You can now buy solar panels at Costco, the discount warehouse membership retailer.

Grape Solar offers competitively priced solar panels and solar power kits.

If you are a member of Costco, you can purchase home solar panels by Grape Solar either at the warehouse, or online.

These are the products currently offered:

1.  880 Watt Exapandable Grid-tied Solar Kit ($3299), with 4 220-watt solar panels, inverters and roof mounting kit

2.  5060 Watt Grid-Tied Solar Kit ($16,999), including 22 230-watt solar panels, an inverter and roof mounting kit.

3.  3680 Watt Grid-Tied Solar Kit ($12,499), including 16 230-watt solar panels, an inverter and roof mounting kit.

Earlier in 2011, Grape Solar entered into a partnership with Costco to offer solar panels in nine test markets throughout Washington State and Oregon.  Over the year, distribution was expanded into other key markets.  Today, you can buy solar panels at Costco in more than 60 bricks-and-mortar locations in the United States.  Costco.com also offers home solar power kits that include solar panels, inverters and roof rack systems.

If you don’t want to install the home solar panels yourself, you can use the company’s network of over 5,000 installers across the nation for services and customer support.  Don’t forget to save your paperwork to take advantage of solar rebates and other incentives.

Solar charging canopies for electric vehicles

With more and more companies producing electric cars, and consumers looking to buy emissions-free vehicles that can save them significant money at the pump, is it any surprise that solar charging canopies are gaining in prominence?

Using solar power to charge electric vehicles (EVs) is becoming more common-place both at residential and commercial sites.  General Motors has pursuing more eco-friendly electric vehicles including as the Chevrolet Volt. Now, new solar charging canopies, including the Tracking Solar T have been installed at GM’s Company Vehicle Operations site in Warren, Michigan.

Envision Solar has developed the Tracking Solar Tree, which generates additional solar power by following the course of the sun as it crosses the sky each day.  The hybrid multi-axis tracking design increases renewable energy production by 25% compared to traditional solar panels. The Solar Tree can produce up to 30,000 kilowatt hours over a year, which is enough solar energy to charge six electric vehicles per day.

Rob Threlkeld, GM global manager of renewable energy said:

“We are constantly looking for places where we can add a renewable focus. This solar tree is an ideal addition because not only does it provide a space to charge our electric vehicles, but it’s another step in our journey toward cleaner energy use.”

Desmond Wheatley, President and CEO of Envision Solar also stated:

“Our Solar Tree structures can be installed in any location while our unique tracking solution allows us to always get the most from the sun. As such they are the perfect visible embodiment of GM and its dealerships commitment to the environment and the future of electric and other highly efficient vehicles. We look forward to installing many more of our iconic tracking Solar Tree structures for GM in the coming months.”

When it comes to electric vehicles, what do you think about these solar charging canopies?

Solar rebates and solar tax incentives

The exact measure of the benefits of solar rebates and tax incentives is a subject of debate.  Some question whether the government should allow tax revenues to be trimmed with rebates, given the current economic climate.  Others believe that the free market should be allowed to operate, and if people cannot afford solar power, they shouldn’t make the switch.

Personally, I am of the mind that solar rebates and tax incentives are important to encourage property owners to forgo cheaper sources of electricity (coal) in favor of renewable energy.  As grid parity – the point at which solar is as inexpensive as coal - comes closer and closer, the need for incentives will diminish.

Since the federal tax credit became available in 2006, solar panel installations have increased 800%.  Some of the growth is attributed to falling solar panel costs, but many agree that incentive programs have allowed many people to successfully switch to solar power.

State and local solar incentives vary, depending on where you live.  But the federal tax credit incentive covers as much as 30% of the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is available across the nation.  Under pressure to reduce the national debt, lawmakers have set the solar tax credit system to expire at the end of 2016.

The solar tax incentives could end even earlier than 2016, if Republicans make significant gains in the upcoming 2012 elections.

Either way, solar rebates and tax incentives will not last forever.  At least not until more lawmakers recognize the importance of continuing to encourage growth in the solar industry.  In the meantime, if you are considering installing solar, now may be the time to do so!

Occupy rooftops on Community Solar Day

Let’s raise awareness of the positive impact of solar power.  Band together with your neighbors and friends on November 20, 2011 for the first Community Solar Day: Occupy Rooftops, organized by Solar Mosaic, 350.org, Vote Solar, and others.

The day is dedicating to gathering people around the world in support of solar energy.  Participants will “occupy rooftops” by gathering at a building that would benefit from rooftop solar panels, both to save energy and create local green jobs.

Community Solar Day will work as follows:

1.  Locate a building in your hometown that would benefit from rooftop solar panels.

2.  Gather a group of friends, neighbors and others in your community to come out and support solar power

3.  Visit the building on which solar panels would be ideal and take a photograph in front of  your dream community solar project.

4.  Post your photograph on meetup.com/Community-Solar.

Community Solar Day is intended to be more than just an opportunity to post photographs.  We need to convince property owners and government leaders that solar power and other renewable energy projects benefit our community by saving money, increasing energy security and breaking free from our reliance on finite fossil fuels.

If you are interested in participating in Community Solar Day, visit Vote Solar for a primer on community solar and a policy toolkit. Learn more and sign up here.