Solar Power Goes Prime Time
When it comes to renewable energy, you want to do the right thing (if you're like most homeowners). But you also want to be sure the options you choose are reliable and affordable. You owe it to yourself to learn about the improvements in solar power -- and the tax credits and rebates that are helping make it affordable for you and your family.
Two Solar Technologies You Need to Know About Now
Want to reduce your need for conventional water heating by at least half and minimize your personal impact on the environment at the same time? You can do both today with a solar water-heating system.
Interested in actually seeing your electric meter spin backwards while your home generates more electricity than it consumes at times of low energy use? This is possible with photovoltaic solar panels.
Solar water heating is already economically feasible. Generating your own electricity with photovoltaic solar panels, however, still costs more than it would to buy power from your utility. But keep in mind that when building or buying a new house, solar can be folded into the mortgage, so you can conceivably save more in energy costs than shows up in your higher monthly payment.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, both solar water heating and photovoltaic panels are reliable and easy for the building industry to install (there's even a new do-it-yourself kit for solar water heating on the market www.fafco.com). The DOE's Solar America Initiative has set a goal to make solar energy totally cost competitive by 2015. In the meantime, tax credits at the federal, state, and local levels are succeeding in encouraging homeowners to adopt solar technologies now.
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