So how do you know if building a do-it-yourself solar panel is the right thing for you?

There are a few guidelines that can help you along. In this way, you won’t ever have to get into a project just to abandon it mid-stream.

You should build your own DIY solar panel if:

1. You are able to work with simple tools and have a weekend to spare

Thankfully, all it takes to build a reasonably sized solar panel are simple tools and a weekend. If you have browsed through the free book titled “How To Build A Solar Panel”, you’ll understand it doesn’t take much. (Download it now, if you haven’t…)

This assumes you have already gathered all your materials and have them cut to size. In fact, if you already had some DIY experience, you can even build a solar panel (not the complete set to power your entire home) in an afternoon.

However do note that integrating your inverter and the battery bank into your power system certainly requires planning and installation. And this takes up time as well.

2. You are not willing to invest much into a solar power generator

Cost is the main reason people build their own solar panels. This is understandable. You can easily burn at least $20,000 (depending on the size of your house) to install a solar energy generator. And things are not getting any cheaper…

With homemade solar panels, you’ll only have to part with a fraction of this cost. This means you’ll get your returns on investment sooner. And your home may be worth a lot more than it originally was without spending a ton of money. In some states, you can receive tax breaks just by using renewable energy like solar power.

In terms of dollars and cents, it certainly makes sense to build your own photovoltaic panels.

Of course, there is no point in starting a DIY project if you simply have no time or are totally uninterested in picking up even a screwdriver to put the solar panel frame together.

Needless to say, if you have spare cash (to the tune of $20,000) to burn, it can be quite fun to watch the contractors climb onto your roof to slap on a few pieces of solar panels while you sit at your garden with a can of beer in your hand.

Seriously, you have to take some time to decide for yourself if building homemade solar panels is for you. Otherwise you can start a DIY solar panel project and leave it uncompleted, shelving it for years in your garage.

Continue Reading:

1. Homemade Solar Panels
2. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3
3. Solor Panel Inverters – Synchronous Solar Panel Inverters

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There are two major benefits to using residential solar panels. First, you can reduce pollution as you rely less on the burning of fossil fuel. Second, you can get a very good return on investment on your photovoltaic panels — these are always double digit returns, much better than Wall-Street-types investment with only single digit paybacks.

Other than these two benefits, there are more that people seldom heard of. But these can be significant when added together:

1. Government subsidies

Many state governors have realized the importance of using renewable energy. Therefore rebates, tax breaks and subsidies are given to households that use renewable energy to power their homes. The total discount on a system may be more than you imagine…sometimes more than 50%. Therefore do check what you’re eligible for.

2. Electricity Bill Hedging

Fuel is consistently increasing in price due to inflation and diminishing supply. But whatever the cost of fossil fuel may be in the future, there is no need for you to pay an extra cent if your solar power generator can supply all your energy needs. The grand total of your bills will still amount to $0. Isn’t that great?

3. Property Appreciation

Properties installed with solar panels are worth more than those without. This is obvious, since solar power generators are assets that can help the household lower their monthly electricity bills dramatically. Having PV panels in your property will not increase your property tax. Therefore it is a priceless item that can maximize the value of your home.

When we install solar panels on our property, we always look for numbers like cost per watt or payback period.. With the above benefits such as government incentives and rebates factored in, we’ll find these numbers become more attractive. Moreover, there are also many intangible benefits like environmental protection that comes along with your PV “toy”.

Continue Reading:

1. Solar Energy Panels – What You Need To Know Before Purchasing
2. Cost Of Using Residential Solar Panels
3. Homemade Solar Panels – Should You Even Roll Up Your Sleeves To Build One?

This project will produce up to 45 percent of the school’s energy needs. This forms part of the sustainability master plan submitted to the School’s Board of Trustees. By 2016, the school aims to achieve carbon neutrality. This is ambitious yet attainable.

There is a tangible advantage to installing solar panels in schools. Students can learn about the importance of using renewable energy in their daily lives. As such, they will likely have plans to use PV panels in the future wherever they work or live.

“Committing to this solar project is a significant statement by Berkshire School on environmental stewardship. We are excited to be developing this impressive solar resource in support of the School’s goals” said Steve Levine, senior development partner at PowerPlay Solar Development.

The electrical contractor involved in this project is ML Schmitt, based out of Springfield, MA.

(This news report was adapted from: Business Wire, published 19 Aug 2011)

Continue Reading:

1. Solar Panel Kits – 3 Compelling Reasons To Use Them
2. Akuo Solar Orders 75,000 SunPower Solar Panels For 24MW Development
3. JinkoSolar Establish Its Local Presence In Zug, Switzerland

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Solar panel kits are becoming more and more popular with DIY hobbyists in the past few years. This is perhaps due to increasing energy costs and a heightened awareness to preserve the environment for our posterity. With these kits, even an amateur can easily set up a photovoltaic panel at his home to power small electrical appliances.

While these panels will not supply the energy needs of your entire household, it certainly helps reduce your energy bills. There are 3 compelling reasons why you should be using solar panel kits:

1. Using Renewable Energy Preserves Our Environment

The use of fossil fuel causes tons of pollutants to be released into the atmosphere every day. Young children and elderly people are more susceptible than others. People with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease may also suffer more when the air is polluted.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution and the development of the internal combustion engine, people have been breathing in carbon particles and other harmful gases everyday. But our environment can be made cleaner in our generation if more of us use renewable energy in our daily lives.

2. They Help Cut Your Energy Bills

Besides helping the environment, solar energy can supplement your household energy needs. This helps reduce your electricity bills. With enough solar panels running for you, the savings can be substantial – you may even cut your bills in half. For example, estimates show that with renewable energy sources, the average family in New Hampshire can save up to $171 in utility bills.

3. Energy Can Be Available Anywhere

It is expensive and resource draining to run power cables to remote places. Whether you are in the middle of a desert or on an abandoned island, you can still produce electricity for yourself as long as the sun shines. With enough solar panels and with the help of an energy bank, your appliances can work anytime of the day, when you require them.

There is also no limit to the applications your solar energy kit can power — water heaters, satellites, outdoor lights, gate openers, et cetera. The only limitation lies in our willingness to use them.

In the United States, government tax breaks are given to encourage people to turn to renewable energy to supplement their energy needs. Many corporations are also relying less on fossil fuel as they realize the harmful consequence of burning these toxic-releasing substances. Building solar panels from solar panel kits is one good way you can personally take environmental and energy concerns into your own hands.

Continue Reading:

1. About
2. 10 Reasons Why You Should Build Your Own Solar Panel
3. Benefits Of Using Residential Solar Panels

1. Used solar panels can be sold to other users

There are a few ways this can be done. You can put your items online at auction sites like eBay, or get your contractor to resell it.

Used solar panels are considerably cheaper than new ones. Thus there will always be folks searching for them online. Not everyone is willing (or are able to) pay for the cost of new photovoltaic (PV) panels. But many people want to own them. So if you can price yours at a reasonable rate, they can be sold rather quickly.

Cleaning up solar panels, listing them online and getting them shipped to another user may be a hassle for you. In this case, you will appreciate a little help from your contractor. Many of them are happy to buy used solar panels at a reasonable price so they can resell to other people. At their workshop, your PV panels are cleaned, reconditioned and put on display, waiting to be sold.

2. Give them to your friends or relatives

This alternative can generate lots of goodwill. More importantly, it can introduce them to a lifestyle of using renewable energy to supplement (or even totally supply) their energy needs. Those friends who care about the environment will thank you greatly for doing this. After all, this is one practical way you can help to reduce their carbon footprint with minimal cost.

3. Donate them to institutions

If you want to create the greatest impact with your used solar panels, donate them to universities, charities or laboratories. These people are pretty cost conscious. PV panels can help them reduce their energy expenditure.

After tasting the benefits of harnessing “free” electricity from the sun, they will not be able to live without one after their solar panel breaks. And if they really buy into the idea of using solar panels to supplement their energy needs, these guys are able to raise lots of money to install solar panels on a much bigger scale.

Hope these seed ideas can get more sparks flying in your brain…

Here are some points that you need to note when selling used solar panels online, at forums or on Internet billboards:

1. Be clear and honest on the condition of your PV panels. As long as they are still efficiently functioning, used solar panels can be sold…even with blemishes. People just want to be informed about its physical condition so they know what they are getting.

2. If you can, measure the open & closed circuit voltage of your solar panel. Some folks are interested in such figures to determine the degradation. Many people are also interested in how much current it can produce. But this is subjective. Solar intensity varies from location to location and from time to time, thus affecting current.

Finally, if your solar panel is dead (neither voltage nor current exists), you can still recycle the PV panel frame. Essentially, you can revive your own solar panels just by ripping out the old solar cells and soldering in new ones. The warranty will be void, but it should have expired anyway. Besides, giving your used solar panels an “overhaul” can be lots of fun!

PS. If you really have to throw away your PV panels, take note that some components contains elements such as lead, plastic, aluminum, glass and cadmium. These toxic elements harm the environment and your health. So ask your local authorities for information about recycling programs and solar panels disposal.

Continue Reading:

1. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3
2. Home Solar Power — Different Ways of Harnessing Energy From The Sun To Reduce Energy Bills
3. Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 3 of 3)