Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Today kids are learning about all sorts of things especially with modern technology. We are moving ahead and it is good to teach them about solar power, which is a resource that will be part of their future, depending on how much care is spent on it now. Wherever you see the sun shines, or you can feel any warmth or see it, you can have solar power. This kind of power to used for heating and lighting in business, homes and schools; for heating water, and it also a way to produce energy. By teaching kids how solar power actually works and how we should use it wisely will help to protect the future for us all.

Children need to learn why we need and alternative to the energy we use today and the effects and damage it has had on the world’s environment. It is important for them to understand why we need to produce a safer energy source. Electricity is currently a non-rewable resource, as we gain nothing from using it. Once this power runs out we will need to find an alternative source of power supply. Scientists are always busy looking at new resources for energy production, so that when we eventually do run out of one source, there is another in reserve to replace it, so that we don’t miss out.

Until then, another resource needs to be found, to ensure that is ready for when the switch over is necessary. We need to preserve what is left at the moment, so that in the near future we can immediately switch to a new energy resource with no problems. Much of energy production that we have is currently damaging and so harms the environment. By polluting the air, the sun is under threat and we run the risk of losing it as a natural resource. This alternative resource is vitally important, so by teaching our kids they can join our efforts to save solar power for the future.

Solar power generates energy by using the natural resources around us, and there are man made sources so that the solar power can be attracted to these sources and saved. We need to find a way for this be to cost effective by using solar sources that are cheap enough to provide us with the solar power that is needed. The average home would benefit greatly by switching over to solar power, and it is easy to set up, saving on the need for power lines. If your home is being built from scratch, by installing solar power you can begin to generate electricity in your home straightaway, to heat your water supply, and you could even sell your surplus energy for use elsewhere. You would be putting money back in your pocket. There are huge benefits to be gained by saving on producing a resource by the slow use of a natural resource. Children will learn how to save energy and how to plan for their safe future.

Conserving solar power by everyone of all ages and the sooner it starts, the more the future will benefit. Teaching kids is the way forward in order to save our energy, as we need a solution on how we can save on solar power in the future. Currently power is linked to each individual house for heating, our water supply and some other necessities; by being able to save in larger quantities we hope one day to cut out the need for so power lines that we see everywhere running through fields, our streets and backyards which will be replaced by solar panels and boxes instead.



Cory

John Gimigliano asked:


In 1859, Charles Dickens famously penned the opening lines to “A Tale of Two Cities”: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…

Dickens was not, of course, referring to the outlook for the renewables sector in 2009, but he easily could have been. The outlook for the renewables sector is a remarkable juxtaposition of a rosy future and a grim present. On the one hand, the growing public and political consensus around the dangers of climate change coupled with the rousing endorsement from Congress in the broad renewables tax package enacted in October 2008 all bode well for the sector. On the other, the dramatic downturn in the financial sector suggests that obtaining project-level financing is going to be tough sledding throughout 2009.

This “best of times, worst of times” dynamic suggests the coming year may well be the year that the renewables sector proves its mettle to the market, showing remarkable resilience in the face of extreme financial uncertainty. To do so, it will need a little help from Capitol Hill— and Congress may well deliver.

Prospects for Climate Change Legislation in 2009

During the 2008 presidential campaign, President-Elect Obama endorsed a cap-and-trade program as the preferred approach to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, both the House and the Senate are poised to resume consideration of various cap-and-trade proposals early in 2009. While many economists, including the Congressional Budget Office, prefer the simplicity of a carbon tax, most observers believe that a cap-and-trade system is the most likely political outcome.

If a cap-and-trade regime is inevitable, the next question to ask is when it might be enacted. The answer to this question depends largely on the health of the economy. Many believe that the Obama Administration will be reluctant to burden an already soft economy with the higher energy prices that a cap-and-trade program would almost certainly bring. If the economy remains mired in recession throughout 2009 and 2010, comprehensive climate change legislation could be shelved until a possible Obama second term.

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

If comprehensive climate change legislation is tabled for the short term, it seems likely that Congress and the Obama Administration will redouble efforts on more narrow policy goals or regulatory reforms that have long been at the forefront of environmental policy in the United States. Indeed, the appointment of Ken Salazar as Secretary of the Interior; Carol Browner as head of the newly formed National Energy Council; and appointments at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy (DOE), and other agencies all point to a determined effort to chart an aggressive course on environmental policy. In particular, the likelihood for a federal renewable energy standard (RES) is enhanced by the convergence of large Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress and a Democrat in the White House. President-Elect Obama was supportive of a federal Renewable Portfolio Standard throughout the presidential campaign, and the House of Representatives passed a similar RES on several occasions. The Senate, long a stumbling block to this legislation, will have a decidedly greener point of view in the incoming Congress.

The most recent House version of an RES, in H.R. 6899 from the 110th Congress, likely represents the jumping- off point for legislative efforts in the 111th Congress. Interestingly, that version allows for energy efficiency measures to be treated as qualifying under the RES standard. This would bode well for energy efficiency technologies, particularly in the Southeast where other renewable resources appear to be less abundant.

Likely, other areas to be considered will be modified Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for the automobile industry and new and more flexible tax credits for clean and alternative energy. Likewise, the incoming Obama Administration had pledged to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure including areas such as smart grid, biofuels pipelines, and mass transit. This infrastructure spending could be authorized quickly in 2009 in the promised economic stimulus bill currently under consideration by House and Senate leadership. The stimulus bill could also include large grants, tax incentives, and other authorizations for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and technology.

The Future of Renewable Energy Tax Incentives

To date, the principal approach to encouraging renewables development in the United States has been through the tax code. The production tax credit (PTC) has helped fuel remarkable increases in U.S. wind generation in recent years. Likewise, the energy investment tax credit (ITC) is largely responsible for the current boom in the solar sector. The same can be said of renewable energy tax credits for biofuels, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells, hybrid automobiles, and so on.

This approach has worked well… until now. The rapid decline of the financial sector throughout 2008 has all but eliminated the erstwhile renewables financiers from the marketplace. Even those financial institutions that still have cash on hand often have current financial and tax losses, making tax credits all but useless. Without these traditional sources of project-level financing, many planned wind, solar, and other renewables projects may never get beyond the planning phase.

It is against this backdrop that Congress is considering a revision of renewables tax incentives to make them more effective in the current financial climate. Congress will likely revisit energy tax legislation in 2009 to, at a minimum, extend the production tax credit for wind that expires on December 31 of that year. While considering that extension, Congress has indicated that it will consider making the PTC and possibly the ITC refundable. Unlike the current-law tax credits, the holder of a refundable tax credit need not have a tax liability to capture the value of the tax credit. Rather, the holder of the tax credit can apply for a refund from the federal government in an amount equal to the credit.

This approach would allow developers and project investors who do not have sufficient tax liability to capture the value of the tax credits to nevertheless do so in the form of refunds from the federal government. This change could significantly expand the universe of potential project investors from the handful (that have both the capital on hand and the tax liability to utilize the project tax credits) that exist today. Such an approach, if enacted, would push the United States a step closer to the feed-in tariff approach so common in Europe. One lingering complexity to be resolved is whether the accelerated tax depreciation (five years for wind and solar projects) would be refundable as well. On the one hand, this accelerated cost recovery represents a sizeable portion of the tax benefits that attract investors. On the other hand, Congress may be reluctant to set a precedent for other industries that depreciation and cost recovery can be a refundable item.

An alternative proposal put forward by the incoming Obama Administration would allow claimants of renewable energy tax credits to carry them back to the preceding five tax years. This would allow these project developers and investors to wipe out taxes paid in earlier years and claim a tax refund from the federal government. While this approach is likely to be helpful to many potential investors, it is unlikely to have the broader stimulus effect of a generally refundable credit.

Meanwhile, it seems likely that other industries will enter into the renewables tax financing market. In particular, public utilities appear to be a good choice to take up some of the slack. As regulated companies, utilities tend to have both cash and tax liability. In addition, the renewable energy sector is a natural fit for the core competency of these entities. Utilities know project development, power purchase agreements, transmission interconnects, and other fundamentals around power production (even if the underlying technology is new to most traditional utilities).

Conclusions

Despite momentum in public opinion, political circles, and discussions among strategic investors, the renewables sector faces a challenging year like most sectors of the economy. While comprehensive climate change legislation may have to wait for firmer economic footing, other help may be on the way. A federal RES would create demand for renewables on a national basis. This coupled with revamped refundable tax credits could shake loose project-level investment that has been lacking in recent months. These legislative changes could change the outlook from “A Tale of Two Cities” to another great Dickens book: “Great Expectations.”

This article was first published by the KPMG Global Energy Institute in 2009 prior to the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is reprinted here with permission of the publisher.

About the KPMG Global Energy Institute This article is provided by the KPMG Global Energy Institute. The Institute’s goal is to provide an open forum where industry financial executives can share knowledge, gain insights and access thought leadership about global energy industry issues and emerging trends. To access a regularly updated library of thought leadership, video and audio Web casts, podcasts and conferences and events, please visit http://www.kpmgglobalenergyinstitute.com/.



Annie

Astute asked:


The growth in renewable energy jobs throughout the European continent has occurred due to a concern for resource shortages. Petroleum reserves throughout the world are dwindling and public and private organisations are concerned with the aftermath of an energy shortage. The push for renewable energies in the form of wind power, solar energy, nuclear power and other resources has created a growing job market. You need to understand specific areas of the renewable energy jobs market in order to find the best job for your needs.

The greatest area of commercial growth in renewable energy jobs is in the hybrid car industry. Automakers throughout the world are searching for engineers, project managers and scientists that are capable of turning gas guzzling cars into Earth-friendly vehicles. The process of creating a single hybrid vehicle is daunting considering the century of progress made toward perfecting the combustible engine. You can find renewable energy jobs with any automaker in the world at this point as companies try to out-invent each other to find the best hybrid vehicle.

Solar power has turned from a viable primary option to a reliable secondary option among renewable energy experts. The number of solar panels that would need to be laid out throughout the UK and Europe to make installation feasible would blot out the sun. Solar energy is considered an important part of new home building, however, as strategically placed panels over a carport are a good source of passive energy. You can apply your architectural knowledge to determine the best way to use solar energy in the construction of new buildings.

There has been a debate among renewable energy experts as to the sustainability and environmental impact of ethanol and nuclear power. Ethanol is a by-product of corn and other agricultural products that has been found as an alternative to unleaded fuel. The problem that many scientists have with ethanol is the vast amount of production required to make corn into a fuel additive. Your expertise in engineering and project management can help solve these issues once and for all.

Nuclear energy has been controversial among renewable energy activists for years due to several incidents involving the release of waste into populated areas. Aging nuclear plants need to be updated and waste management issues need to be resolved before nuclear power can be feasible as an alternative fuel source. You can bring fresh ideas and a knowledge of electrical engineering to this industry to fulfill your desire to help make renewable energy a reality.



Gail

Joshua Vadney asked:


In this day and age, the two most important things, which need proper attention are the environment and the economy. This is due to the fact that the environment seems to be powerless already because of the high-level of pollution nowadays and the economy is on its critical condition by now because of the increasing inflation rate every year. Thus, you have to act now and do your duty as a responsible human being. You have to do something which will benefit both the environment and the economy. As a matter of fact, one of the very best ways, which you can consider to help the two most important things here on earth is to try building your own solar and wind power systems.

It is quite undeniable that solar energy and wind energy are a renewable types of energy. When you say renewable energy, it simply refers to a type of energy which naturally comes from the environment. Such type of energy can be easily replaced as well as beneficial not only the human race but also to the environment. Hence, building your own solar and wind power systems is a very good thing for you to consider in these days. You just have to be aware on how to get started.

The following are the ways which you can consider in building your own solar and wind power systems:

1. Purchase a DIY solar and wind power system kit. There are so many DIY solar and wind power system kits available in the world market today. You simply have to carefully choose a kit which can be very helpful on your part. In addition, you also have to purchase a kit which is not too expensive but irrefutably effective. In doing so, you can surely save yourself from any regrets in the long run.

2. Carefully read all the instructions. All of the DIY kits on how to build a solar or wind power system include instructions on how you can do such task without the help of any experts. You just have to carefully read all those instructions in order to be truly successful in building your own solar and wind power systems.

3. Be patient and take your time in building your own power system. Patience is absolutely a virtue. Thus, you have to make sure to be very patient in constructing your homemade power system. You have to instill into your mind that you cannot construct your own power system in just a snap of your finger. This only means that you have to exert much of your effort so that you can come up with a very effective power system at the end of the day.

Indeed, building your own solar and wind power systems is not just a simple child’s play. Hence, you really have to bear in mind all the aforementioned ways in building or constructing your own homemade power systems. In this way, you can be sure that you can successfully construct your power system sooner or later, save the dying environment and somehow save a certain amount of money for your own sake.



Tony

Alan Drakovic asked:


When we say alternative energy, it means any source of usable and exploitable energy which is deliberately researched and calculated to replace the ordinary fuel sources. Today, there are many different sources of energy readily available for consumption; it is just a matter of time when the energy alternative will be fully utilized in every home.

Wood is considered as the most basic source of energy. In early times, it is used as a means to make trains run or just simply cooking. Nowadays, since wood is becoming scarce and limited, people are finding ways to alleviate or lessen the needs for wood energy. One energy alternative for wood is coal. Coal is an effective source of energy as it replaces everything that wood energy can provide. Coal is quite accessible, all one has to do is to create a coal mine, and surely, coal will be found.

Petroleum is another energy alternative. Petroleum replaces the use of whale oil back in the 19th century. During that time, whale oils are commonly used for lubrication and fuel for lamps. Now, petroleum is widely used because is it is cheaper than whale oil.

Petroleum, as stated, is an alternative to whale oils. But now, petroleum is becoming limited, as such, another energy alternative was discovered to replace petroleum, and that is goal gasification. Coal gasification simply means coal turned into a gas.

Alcohol is another form of energy alternative. Before alcohol, many people way back then used fossil fuels to run almost everything. However, due to scarcity and limited accessibility of fossil fuels, the use thereof had become very expensive. Since 1917, alcohol had been used as an energy alternative to fossil fuel and become a new trend in providing fuel to many establishments. The good thing about alcohol is that one can just build an ethanol plant in order to obtain this kind of energy alternative.

There are also these zero carbon alternatives. In countries where change of climate is an issue, and thus, making it difficult to store and restore energy, hydrogen and biomass combustion is often used. It is derived from natural gas and does not present any available alternatives because they are not commonly used world wide.

In some countries, they treat natural gas as an alternative source of energy. It is an effective energy alternative as opposed to petroleum. Potential sources of natural gas include decomposition of waste in landfills, agricultural waste materials, unusable parts of plants or manure, and many more.

In this age of technology and advancement, most countries resort to hydro and geothermal plants in order to produce energy. This is commonly called as renewable energy. Other examples include solar energy, energy coming from wind mills or the ocean. These sources of energy are the best alternative to the commonly used coal, petroleum, or fossil fuels. They are called renewable because they produce energy without wasting or combusting anything. Renewable energy is one of the sources of alternative energy that is being utilized and improved today because of its unlimited source and easy accessibility.



Willie

Ornesha De Paoli asked:


Ken Daniel, of Security Advisors Worldwide, or SAW, a renewable energy security advisory company contracted by Jetstream Wind, Inc. recently returned from the island of Haiti.    

I understand that you and Security Advisors Worldwide had a very successful trip to Haiti.  There doesn’t seem to be a great deal of media coming from this nation as to the daily lives of Haitians, the environmental issues they face, or the energy issues they’re looking at.

So that we can have a better picture, can you begin by talking about what it’s like for average citizens in Haiti on any given day?

Mr. Ken Daniel: 

On an average morning in Haiti, people there don’t wake up to the possibility of electricity like we do here. They pretty much use coal to warm themselves in the morning. There also aren’t the refrigeration capabilities like here in the states, so they walk to the market everyday to get whatever food they can prepare and eat that given day.

As far as the issue of water goes, in the capitol of Port-au-Prince there was some running water, and I would see people on the exteriors of buildings filling up their water containers. But out in the rural areas, it’s more difficult and being pumped out of wells.

Along the roadways are fifty-five gallon plastic drums filled with water. Haitian citizens basically walk some distances to these to get their daily water since there aren’t many vehicles owned by private citizens.



There’s obviously not a large availability of electricity in Haiti, which seems odd in this day and age. Where does this issue stem from?

Ken: 

There’s a hydro-plant that rests in-between Port-au-Prince and Hesh. It was actually built by Americans in the early part of the last century and has been around for a very long time. Put simply, it’s just old and doesn’t kick out enough power.

All of the power lines that we take for granted here in the US, actually have cobwebs growing on them in Haiti. And then, with the bad weather, hurricanes and such, there were numerous poles leaning at 45 degree angles with wires coming out of them.

The only real power was in the capitol of Port-au-Prince and it goes off regularly. Mostly though, what I saw were people with candles and bags of coal to cook their food. Really, unless you are a person with a little bit of money and can afford to be affluent, you can’t rely on the comfort of being able to depend on electricity.

With the hurricane situation, the lack of food and good shelter, renewable energy quite possibly could be the key to bringing in some the needed electricity to help with the situation.



This would be the first renewable energy technology being developed on an island, which is monumental. Would it be more difficult creating wind, solar, or hydrogen power on an island in the middle of the ocean as opposed to it being developed on a mainland?

Ken: 

In this particular place, almost everything that is needed can literally be brought to the land. With hydrogen technology for example, an area of land is cleared where it won’t require much manipulation as this technology is easily able to be placed. An added benefit to that is there won’t be any deforestation.

With solar technology, another small piece of land within a vast spread of land is cleared and the technology placed upon it. Lines won’t have to be ran over long expanses of land for fuels, diesel, or natural gas. There won’t ever be an oil spill or pipes in the ground that corrode.

So it doesn’t seem to be too difficult. Exporting equipment out of the United States and importing to an island would be the main issue to be dealt with. Jetstream Wind would have to look at building an airstrip so that they can cargo fly equipment in. Most building materials would have to be imported from the U.S., which is 300 miles off the coast of Miami, and would either come in by cargo plane or shipped in by sea.

It would be a benefit to take the time and see if there was anything available on the island that can readily be used, salvaged and recycled.

The terrain in Haiti (being an island) is more than acceptable. There are mountains, which means the wind is constantly blowing across them. There’s plenty of sunshine shining on the hills that are vast, rounded and able to be navigated. Even the new hydrogen technology can easily be implemented there.

If Haiti were to bring renewable energy in, it could be put anywhere. It wouldn’t have to be placed in a major metropolitan area, and the power from the renewable energy plant(s) could run to the pre-existing grid. The hope would be, however that Haiti itself would help to re-build the infrastructure so that all of this power could get to the homes, schools, hospitals, businesses and other places where electricity is vitally needed.

The truth is that they would have to wait far longer to get any other type of an energy program in, such as coal for example. There are also some pretty severe issues with deforestation happening at present, and so I would think that renewable energy is really the only way to go for Haiti right now.



Looking at the environmental impact of renewable energy on Haiti, would you say that there would be any, at all, created from this technology?

Ken: 

As compared to a coal-fired plant here in the United States, no, other than having to clear small pieces of land to put things on.

There are many countries that simply have to have energy right now, and this is by far the cleanest way to get it. Nuclear is not the answer. It leaves a long-standing residue as a result of that power. Natural gas and coal also lead to numerous environmental concerns.

The fact is that we can’t rely on oil for our needs any longer and I don’t want to see any more damaging changes in the land. This won’t. And the residue from this technology won’t be a bigger burden for the Earth. What’s cleaner than water?

But it really doesn’t matter what country it’s in as far as getting the renewables to work for people. It’s the technology that Jetstream Wind has that hits the central point of this whole thing. In other words, if the technology can get there and the transmission lines can get ran, then this can work almost anywhere.

Working through the issues of basic infrastructure, transmission, politics, and environment, a company like Jetstream Wind is the right answer for those people.



Did the Haitian government welcome you and the possibility of a Jetstream Wind collaboration?

Ken: 

Yes. I was treated very well. I was able to meet with the US Ambassador to Haiti, the advisor to the President of Haiti, several Prime Ministers, and the necessary others that would become involved should we all come together and build a renewable plant there.

Other than simple barriers with the French-Creole language, it was a very successful meeting and everyone was excited. It went from one meeting to five or six, with them wanting me to speak with as many leaders as possible in my short time there.



This is a major project of which Jetstream Wind would probably want to share some sort of responsibility. How deeply would the country of Haiti be involved and responsible in re-powering their nation?

Ken: 

The United States created a bailout for the auto industry. The country of Haiti will possibly need to create a financial bailout for their energy problem. They’re probably going to have to put some money into the system to start readying themselves for this type of project.

Having the years of experience in large military operations, I’ve learned to back-plan for anything. In other words, I can see the end result, but before I can get there I have to first go all the way back to where it begins. It begins by asking questions…a lot of them.

In order for renewable energy to be a reality in Haiti, the Haitian government has to ask themselves some questions so that Jetstream Wind and Security Advisors Worldwide can do our jobs.

How will they find the necessary people needed for this large of a project? How will they train these people? Where are the people located and where is the transportation going to come from to move these people? How will they communicate?

There is a lot of work to be done from taking out old transmission lines and putting in new ones, to breaking ground on the energy plant itself. Power poles will be placed on every block. New construction companies will be built, taking into account everything that goes with that including the huge amount of labor needed.

We can also take into account the education necessary to work with a project of this type, creating a national boost in knowledge. Anything from taking down a power line to managing a company with the large workforce will have to be covered.

It’s not only about the end result of the plant supplying renewable energy to the people. It also includes the entire scope of the process beginning with Haiti’s choice and ability to prepare for it.



In seeing the potential, meeting the representatives, and observing the culture, what is the one thing that you come back with?

Ken: 

I come back with the insight that the country of Haiti is only a two and half hour flight from Miami. It’s not so far away that we can’t touch it with our assistance.

Little kids are walking distances, carrying the water they needed for the day. You have to remember we as a human race have also been to the moon. We’re building a space station. How is it possible that an island, so close to the United States is in the situation it is?

This has the capacity of creating and developing a whole new job infrastructure and economy. It is a prime example of renewable energy quickly effecting the situation for the better.

The capability is there to get it done. The land is there, the people are motivated, and the technology is ready to go. With the help of the Haitians in getting the infrastructure ready, a whole new way of life can arise from this for the people of Haiti, and also the same possibility for other people and nations all over the world.

What strikes me the most from our conversation about renewable energy is its ability to cross borders, boundaries, cultures, political policies, and even world religions without leaving heavy footprints of various unwanted agendas.  

Thank you once again, Ken, for sharing this information showing how people and technology can come together to create a clean, economically stable world for our future and our children’s futures. 

Click here if you would like more information about Security Advisors Worldwide (SAW).

Ornesha  De Paoli

Green Ascension ~ Evolving People on an Evolving Planet



Timothy

Gordon Brown asked:


The amount of solar energy produced varies greatly depending on which region of the world you may live. Locations that receive plenty of sunlight are the most beneficial when it comes to installing residential solar energy systems. Anybody residing in an area like Florida or Phoenix would really be missing out on some serious savings. You can save thousands of dollars a year with a residential solar energy system if you live in one of these areas. It really is a no-brainer and if you thought you couldn’t afford it, but have some handy-man skills, think again!

Prices and quality will vary when converting your home to residential solar energy. There are many factors that effect the productivity of any solar powered home. The big one is the location in which you live, but another factor can be the type of system that you wish to install.

Some residential solar energy owners disconnect from the utility grid completely and make use of back-up batteries. By including a battery backup system, the price of your solar energy system will increase. However, if you truly want to be free from the utility company, this is your route. The energy is stored within the batteries when more electricity is produced than what is being used. This energy is saved for times in which the panels do not receive any sunlight, such as at night.

Most families decide to stay connected to the utility grid instead of using a battery storage system. By staying connected to the grid you’ll be able to draw additional electricity (when needed) from the power company. This is also necessary for anybody looking to install a partial solar energy system, for those who cannot afford a full system to cover their entire home.

For those who stay connected to the grid and produce more energy than they use at any one time, their meter box will actually rotate backwards. When this happens, it means you’re actually feeding electrical power into the utility grid and getting credit for it on your bill! This is known as “net-metering.”

There are some factors to take into account when looking into the price of a residential solar energy installation. A lot of people can be awe-struck by the initial cost of a system. However, tax rebates are available to families running their homes on green energy. This can help offset the costs drastically and can be in the form of a credit, direct payment, or cuts to your property taxes.

As more residential solar energy options become available and more solar breakthroughs occur, solar energy is becoming more practical than ever. At the same time the cost of all forms of energy continue to rise. Do you actually think they will get lower any time soon? Are you ready to get more for your money and go green?

In today’s day and age we have more opportunities to reduce our footprint and save money than ever before. The cost of installing a residential solar energy system has become affordable for the average family. Depending on the installation, converting your home to utilize solar power can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to upwards of ninety thousand dollars (professionally installed systems are extremely expensive).

If you’ve been worried about our environment or looking to save money, I strongly suggest giving residential solar energy a try. If you can afford a professional installation, go for it! However, if you’re looking to go green and can’t afford such a system, try a do it yourself solar energy project. DIY solar projects sound complicated but are actually very simple and more affordable. The level of quality depends on your care and craftsmanship, but DIY solar panels produce just as much power as any other solar panels!



Ricardo