Is solar electricity economical for a small bungalow and is it worth the trouble?
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Depending on your location, solar may not provide enough power to feed an electric stove, electric water heater, central air conditioner, or electric dryer. If you can go with gas appliances and live without A/C, you could do this. You will have to investigate low-energy appliances and low-voltage lighting. It is available and can be done. As for selling solar power that you generate back to the grid, don't count on it.
Most 'green' houses use a combination of renewable energy sources. Check out the National Renewable Energy Laboratory website http://www.nrel.gov/ for facts and figures to help you make a better judgment.
Solar is great, but the technology isn't quite there at the moment. We do need pioneers like yourself who are willing to make the commitment so that others down the road can have partial solar power in their homes. Make the leap and do it.
Also look into wind power as well. I know of a farm in Illinois that uses baseboard heaters in the house that are powered off of one windmill, and this is all the heat they have in the home.
yes, What you don't use you sell back to electric company.
over time it will pay for it self..
depends on where you live
There are a lot of factors to take into consideration. In the long run the solar system usually pays for itself, but if you have problems the repairs can cost also. If you live in a very sunny place then over time it will be a good investment.
Yes, if you plan to own the house for a long time. You will save money on your electric bill, hands down. You will need to figure out the installation costs based on the size of the panels you would need to cover your electric useage and any battery storage you may want. Then find out how much you would save on your electricity. Subtract the monthly savings from the installation costs and thats how long you will need to own the house for it to pay itself off.
There may be tax breaks or refunds where you live. Also, find out if you can sell extra electricity to the power company. Not all places offer this.
The resale value of your house will be affected also. It should bring the value up, provided it is aesthetically pleasing. Good luck.
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