DIY Solar Panels World

SolarWorld To Install PV Panels for Affordable Housing Projects

SolarWorld will install solar panels for the nation’s largest government-sponsored affordable housing project. This is a 2-megawatt project owned and operated by the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HACSB). Through this, more than 1,000 low-income families in the California County can enjoy the benefits of solar technology in their daily lives.

This solar installation is spread across 21 sites around the county with 250 separate structures, five municipal permitting jurisdictions and three utilities. A total of 7,200 SolarWorld PV panels will be installed. They can supply the entire energy requirement at the 863-unit affordable housing. This installation can help tenants cut down their power costs tremendously.

Solar power has the potential to deliver clean, affordable energy to the hands of anyone who use it. This government-sponsored project is a clear indication that we are moving forward toward this goal, albeit slowly.

In 2010, SolarWorld and Planet Solar worked on a 100-kilowatt system together. They supplied the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara with a solar power system that supplies clean energy to multi-family affordable housing.
Other than this, SolarWorld has also installed solar panels to low-income housing projects nationwide, from Tampa, Fla., to Sacramento, California.

(This news report was adapted from: Business Wire, published 18 Aug 2011)

10 Reasons Why You Should Build Your Own Solar Panel

If you’re a DIY guy yet need more reasons to cajole you to build your own solar panel, here are ten most important reasons why other DIY-ers like yourself are persuaded to build their own solar power generator. Here they are:

Reason #1: Building your own solar panel is very cost effective. It is a lot cheaper than buying comparable retail panels.

Reason #2: Building your own solar panel takes only less than a week and it is relatively easy to do if you follow a plan.

Reason #3: You’ll get the satisfaction of being able to create something useful with your own hands…and when you see your project powering up your gadgets and appliances, you’ll be filled with warm delight.

Reason #4: After the solar panel system is built, it keeps giving back to you and requires almost no maintenance at all.

Reason #5: It is an environmentally friendly thing to do and you are giving back to Mother Earth.

Reason #6: It gets the whole family together and it gives the kids a solid understanding about solar powered systems.

Reason #7: It usually takes you less than 2 years for your DIY solar panels to payback what they cost…as contrast to an average of 15 years payback period for commercial-grade solar panels.

Reason #8: Making your own solar panel forces you to get outdoors and get the less-exercised part of your body (and brain) moving.

Reason #9: It challenges you to get creative on what else you can use the solar panels for. (Mainly electronic gadgets comes to most people’s mind)

Reason #10: It’s always a talking point whenever there’re visitors. It makes you feel great as you see the “wow” on your friend’s face!

I hope these heartfelt reasons resonate with you…enough to get you working on your own project soon.

However, also allow me be a little straightforward with you. Building your own solar panel is not a task that you can accomplish with great ease. There are hidden pitfalls if you’re building a solar panel for the first time. This may result in loss of time and money.

Therefore before you build your own solar panel for the first time, go seek someone experienced to guide you along. Otherwise you can get good instructions to show you the ropes.