Home Solar Energy System

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I am thinking about investing a couple of dollars in my home's energy system, by adding some sort of solar system of it. With hydro becoming expensive and scarce, (blackouts and all) I think it is a good time.

If anybody has had any experience with this, I would like to hear/read your opinion. How much did it cost? how big was the system, i.e. how much did it produce? What was the effect on your energy bill?do you have any regrets?

In advance, thanks for your input.

 

[happygrump]

Check out Arise Technologies based in Kitchener. The grand poobah there, Ian MacLellan, is not the easiest person to get in touch with, but he's a vertiable guru of info on solar panels and sundry items (DC to AC converters, for instance).

Good luck! Let us know how it all comes out.

 

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[xarir]

In general terms, solar energy is still in its infancy. Though there have been advances, the efficiency of converting solar radiation into AC current is still fairly miserable. I think the record is still less than 40% efficiency. (34% seems to be a familiar number for some reason.) The International Space Station uses almost 4000 square metres of solar panels to generate electricity. The solar panels in fact are bigger than the entire station itself. Keep in mind that the space station and satellites etc don't have a contaminated, hazy atmosphere in the way either, so their efficiency is probably a little higher that what you'd get here on earth.

While you may get a little juice out of solar panels, the cost/benefit is such that it might take a few years for the investment to pay for itself. But you'd have the peace of mind that you have in fact lowered your overall energy costs over time, and helped the environment as well.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

[sizematters]

my guess is that it will cost a small fortune and you will never see payback. Photovoltaic (PV) panels deliver tiny amounts of power...check out capacity and cost of Canadian Tire panels for example. PV panels also degrade over time although sellers of such do not like to talk about it.

what do want to achieve? if only for backup then get a genset...for $5000 you can light up the whole house, do laundry, run the air con...

or do you want lights only?

like it or not sucking power from the grid is still the cheapest

what about lifestyle changes? conserve! do you really need air con in summer? turn the furnace down in winter, wear a sweater.
unplug the dryer, get a clothesline (unless you live in Mississauga where clotheslines are illegal). turn off lights in empty rooms.

go to bed early
sleep with someone to keep warm

I better stop now.

 

[wevildoer]

heating water vs generating electricity

As noted, the efficiency of solar panels is low and hence the amount of power you can generate small. Working against you is the high price of the panels and batteries. Given today's economics, it's unlightly that you would ever recoup on your investment in dollars saved against your hydro bill. However, do gain independence in the event of a power failure.

Here's a company that sells home solar packages: http://www.planetarysystems.com/cat_power_packages.shtml. It generates 2500 Watts of power (roughly your dryer or the lights in your house) and costs about $6500 US. More startling, it weighs 1250 lbs!

An alternative, heating water is fairly simple. The Toronto Star had an article a few weeks back about a laundramat in the Beaches which was converted to solar power. I believe they based their decision on a 10 year pay back. Consumers Gas is getting involved in this area.

From what I read on Toronto Hydro's web site, they're planning on offering an energy audit service. They'll come around, check out your home and give you some tips on how to save. It's amazing how much power we squander - fans, pumps, heaters, etc. Intelligently controlling the things that use power in your home might be a bigger cost savings.

Wev

 

[peteeey]

Most anyone involved in energy conservation will say the Hydro route is the cheapest way to go. And it's even less expensive with the tips Sizematter gave in a previous post.

Some other ways to save money is to invest in energy-saving big appliances and possibly a solar water heater.

 

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thanks everybody for your input... as of now it does not look too good, something to do with modifications to the house for the next two years (it is a new house and the warranty-insurance wont hold if major renovations are done). So I am trying to figure out, if placing solar panels on the roof is allowable, early signs are that it is not..... Again, thanks for all the replies....

 

[mr. bigz]

Alternatively, if u have a large lot, u can set the panels on ground based racks. The advantage would be:

1) u can tilt the panels to better track the sun.
2) brush the snow off during winter for better efficiency
3) Doesn't damage your roof and your warranty

The disadvantage is it would take up space on your lot.

U can read more by about home solar power by going to this site:
http://www.homepower.com/