Tapping into solar power for some of your home energy needs can be an exciting prospect. All you need is a sunny spot to mount solar collectors, and you can start exploring the possibilities. You could install a solar-electric system to produce some or all of your own electricity, a solar-water heating system for your domestic hot water, or a solar-thermal system to help heat your home. Some solar-powered homes have all three!
When you choose solar energy, you’re taking advantage of a renewable source of power that doesn't produce air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions. Home solar systems also make you more self-reliant — for example, some types of systems can serve as backup heat or power in an emergency. And in the right circumstances, opting for solar energy can save you money, too. A lot of the details depend on where you live and how much energy you consume at home.
The Basics. If you’re not sure where to start, Find Solar has a lot of good consumer information. Check out the resources pages for helpful background information on different types of home solar systems and relative costs. If you’re specifically interested in a solar-electric system, you can use the solar calculator to get a more specific price estimate.
When you’re ready to purchase a home solar system, most people will work directly with a local solar installer to figure out the specifics of their home system. If you’re interested, you can request bids from local installers directly through the FindSolar website. If you just want to browse, you can also search thedirectory of local installers.
Alternatively, you can find solar installers in your area by doing a few simple searches online, and then contact these businesses directly to discuss specifics. Be sure to ask for references and details on how many systems the company has installed. Also, if you have multiple installers in your area, shopping around a little may be helpful.
More Details. If you’re interested in a more hands-on approach to solar energy, you can learn a lot about solar options before ever calling an installer. You can even choose to build or install your own home solar systems. One good resource to be aware of is Home Power magazine. This publication provides tons of product information and other technical details about home renewable energy systems. Look for recent issues, or read articles online at Home Power.
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the best way to get PV solar is buying a kit from suppliers like sunelec and if not capable, hire a local electrician to do what you can't.
Well shopped grid tie systems can be as low as $2/wt, offgrid installed yourself, just over $1k/kw.
By doing tis legwork you can save 50% or more on it. Well worth the time. think of it as making $50-100/hr.
Thank you for writing this article, but you missed the most prominent source of information to find solar installers, SolarReviews (http://www.solarreviews.com). The site has over 3,000 solar installers listed and 10,000+ customer reviews. It's essentially the TripAdvisor or Yelp for the solar industry.