Solar panels boost home sales

We’ve blogged about it before, but its worth discussing again just because anything that can increase the sale price of a home is welcome news these days!

Solar homeowners get higher prices for property sales.  In other words, if you install solar panels on your rooftop, the feature could help you sell your home, depending on its age and location.

A study published by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, supports the theory that solar powered homes enjoy higher resale prices than comparable “non-solar” properties in the neighborhood.

With solar panel prices averaging $4-6 per watt in California, an entire residential rooftop solar panel system can run approximately $15-20,000.  Local, state and federal rebates and incentives can lower that price, however.  Most solar power systems have a lifetime of 25-30 years, so if you sell your home before you reach your return on investment (the point at which you break even on utility savings, or approximately 7 years for most homeowners), you can still recoup the costs of your solar installation.

Interesting, the study found that homes with existing solar panel systems sold for even more than new homes constructed with solar panels.  Don’t forget that, for every $1 you save in annual electricity costs with solar power, the value of your home increases by $20.  That means, a saving of $500 (less than $50 per month) can quickly translate to a $10,000 boost in home equity!

If you are thinking about selling your home in a few years, now just might be the time to install panels because solar homeowners get higher prices for property sales.

World's largest building integrated PV system to be constructed in China

Yesterday, Astronergy (also known by the name of its parent company, Chint Solar) announced that the largest photovoltaic system in the world would be constructed in China next year.  To be located at the Hangzhou East Railway Station, the 10 MW solar panel system will be grid connected and fully building integrated.

The cost of the largest photovoltaic system will come from funds from the Golden Sun Program and National Solar Photovoltaic Building Demonstration Projects.  According to a press release:

The station, located in East Hangzhou, will serve as a hub for high-speed rail, subway, buses, taxis and other forms of transportation. The PV project will integrate grid-connected power generation into the building’s infrastructure and will make full use of the building surfaces and roofs, as well as other surfaces.

The solar panels at the Hangzhou East Railway Station will cover 148,000 square meters and will generate over 9,800,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) each year.  When it begins operating, the solar panel system will replace 3277 tons of coal and reduce CO2 emissions by 8095 tons.

Its exciting to think that the train station and the world’s largest photovoltaic system will be operational by the end of 2011.   The hope is that the project becomes a model for other solar installations across China.  Dr. Liyou Yang, CEO of Astronergy, stated:

“By bringing together two very necessary elements of sustainable cities- efficient transit and clean energy, we are setting an example for cities worldwide that sustainability is, in fact, achievable.”

Astronergy is a leader in renewable energy development with the goal of bringing its photovoltaic (PV) solar power product line to global markets.

Homeowners that install solar panels can enjoy smaller electricity bills and often get credit from their utility by net metering.  That is, if they generate more power than they use, the extra solar electricity is fed back into the grid, allowing other customers the benefit of green power.  On the other hand, during time periods in which the sun is not shining (overnight or during inclement weather), you don’t have to invest in a battery or back-up generator.  You only pay for net consumption of electricity, with a grid-connected solar power system.  Depending on your utility, you may also be billed a nominal fee for the grid connection (less than $5 per month), and local taxes.

Benefits of grid-connected solar power:

1.  Reliable electricity from the ability to draw from the grid when solar panels are not generating much (or any) electricity.

2.  Time of Use pricing (TOU) by utilities generally means you pay more during the daytime when demand is high, and less at night.  With solar panels, however, you won’t need to draw on the most expensive electricity since your panels are generating power during daylight hours.

3.  Utilities can provide more consistent power when homeowners install solar panels because grid demand and congestion during peak hours is lowered.  That also minimizes the risk of blackouts and brownouts.  In short, home solar panel systems that are connected to the grid actually help stabilize the entire system by shaving off peak electricity demand during the day, and then drawing on grid power at night to “fill the valleys.”

According to the Department of Energy’s 2007 report on distributed generation, home solar systems can “[increase] electric system reliability” and “[reduce] peak power requirements.”  In fact, the 2003 Northeast Blackout, which affected an estimated 45 million people in eight U.S. states, could have been prevented if 80,000 more solar homes were powered by solar electricity.

How grid connected solar panel systems work

Going solar is the smart thing to do.  Each day, abundant, free power from the sun literally falls from the sky.  We can harness a fraction of that to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as demand on the grid.  Staying connected to the grid, however, allows use of net metering and reliability when solar resources are low.

Grid-connected solar power is a practical solution to today’s energy dilemmas.

PV Powered Solar Inverters are User-friendly and UL98 code-compliant

Oregon is the leading solar manufacturing state in the nation, and PV Powered is an integral part of the state’s renewable energy success.  The company manufactures solar inverters for grid-tied solar power systems.  PV Powered claims to be:

“the leader in grid-tied solar inverter reliability, installability and maintainability.”

Earlier this year, PV Powered announced the introduction of user-friendly solar inverters that make installation less expensive and more simple, and also are UL 98 code-compliant.  Looks like Oregon is going to continue to lead the nation in solar!

Here’s a video showing installation of an “ordinary” grid-tied solar inverter:

A user-friendly, reliable solar inverter system is necessary

So, what is different with the solar inverter from PV Powered?  As explained on its website:

“The new feature is a single-knob AC/DC disconnect with a wire raceway. This enhancement, integrated into the company’s inverters, eliminates the need for extra conduit and hardware, thereby saving installation materials and labor costs. The wire raceway provides for isolation of the DC, AC and low voltage DC connections per the NEC (National Electric Code) requirements, with generous working room for installers’ hands and tools. The PV system disconnect hardware and enclosure assembly has received extensive testing under extreme conditions, and is the first to have passed the strict UL 98 standard for switches. The UL98 standard is specifically written for enclosed and dead front switches, providing inspectors with a recognized standard for safety and reliability.”

In short, the solar inverter is easier to install.  Less equipment is required, and you may even be able to do it yourself.  Perhaps more impressive is the fact that the inverter meets the UL 98 (Underwriters Laboratories) standard for switches.  Being able to flip a switch (that is both safe and reliable) makes owning and operating a solar power system simpler.

The complexity of going solar is one thing that stops many people from installing panels on their roofs.  Solar inverters from PV Powered should reduce that barrier.

If you purchase one of these inverters, you won’t be the only satisfied customer.  Kirk Mulligan of Clean Power Systems praised:

”We have been waiting for PV Powered to add an integrated disconnect, and I have to say it was well worth the wait.  Their new solution delivers the level of engineering elegance and reliability that we have come to expect from them.”

Are you ready for an easy PV installation that not only operates well, but looks good?  The new PV Powered solar inverter has a flush side to side mounting that provides a nice, clean installation.  But its user-friendly aspects may be the biggest selling point.

What do you think?  Would you finally go solar with the inverters offered by PV Powered?

Ready to cut the ties and go off-grid?

Have you considered going completely energy independent with a solar power system?  That is, do you long for going off-grid, free from the expensive rates of utility companies?  I had always thought that off-grid was clearly the way to go, until I did a bit more research.

There are a number of pros and cons for you to consider when implementing a solar power system that will take you off-grid.  First, let’s review the three types of solar power systems:

1. On-Grid Battery Solar Power System
2. On-Grid Solar Power System without Battery
3. Off-Grid Solar Power System

With an on-grid battery system, a back-up battery is included as part of the solar power system.  Batteries can store excess energy generated by the solar panels, and even send the surplus electricity out to the grid.  Of course, the system is connected to the electricity grid which is why it is called “on-grid.”  The solar panel system includes solar panels, a charge controller, battery, inverter, AC service entrance and AC subpanel, and a utility meter.

You can still stay on-grid without a battery, however.  These solar power systems are the simplest and least expensive to set up.  All that is included is the PV array, an inverter, AC service entrance and utility meter.  Your system is connected to the grid, but there is no battery back-up.  The obvious drawback is that when power goes out in your area, your solar power system will also shut down.

Finally, there is the off-grid solar power system.  There is no tie-in to the electricity grid.  Batteries are required as part of the system in order to store excess energy.  The following video shows how to set up this type of system:

If your home is in the woods, you may need to be off-grid

Turning to a comparison of on-grid vs. off-grid solar power systems, there are clear advantages and disadvantages to each of these.

Off-grid systems are the only way to go if you live in a remote area where there are no utilities.  In fact, you can get a better deal on rural properties that are not connected to the grid because of the expense of running lines out to the home.

But, if you have the ability to connect to the grid, why wouldn’t you?  First and foremost is the idea of independence from utilities.  No more worries about rate increases.  If the power goes out, your lights and refrigerator (and television and radio) are not affected.  Second, due to the cost of an off-grid system, many homeowners find themselves forced to conserve energy rather than expand the system to generate more power.  This is very appealing to the environmentally-minded.

What are the down-sides for going off-grid?  Instead of the utility company maintaining your system, you’ll be doing it all yourself.  Batteries will have to be replaced (about every 5-15 years) at a cost of at least $1000.  In addition to the cost of the batteries is the inefficiency, which increases as the batteries age.  They start out at about 90% efficiency.  Moreover, when you’re not connected to the grid, excess energy that is generated is not fed out to the utility to give you an energy credit (this can happen with on-grid systems).  Off-grid systems must use the surplus or lose it.  Finally, most off-grid systems include a back-up generator, which can be very expensive.

None of this is to say that you should not go off-grid.  My in-laws have been living off-grid for almost 25 years and just love it!  My father-in-law is very much a do-it-yourself kind of person.  If you enjoy convenience, however, going off-grid may not be for you!

Grid tie-ins are usually very reliable

For an on-grid system, the primary upside over off-grid is that you can draw on grid-based electricity when necessary, rather than either go without power, or use a fossil-fuel based generator.  You still get a great deal of independence and cheap electricity, but it may be more reliable in many ways.

The biggest question for you is whether you will include a battery or not.  Battery-based on-grid systems cost about 35-50% more than without, but you lose the opportunity for back-up without a battery.  Also consider the cost of utility line extension for grid-ties.  If you are close to the line, it may cost you nothing.  But if it will be a major extension, it could be very expensive and you may decide that staying off-grid is the best way to go for your home.  If you tie into the grid, be sure you are clear about the question of net metering (when you can sell back excess energy to the grid for credit).

Fortunately, there are many solar power system options for homeowners.  No matter your circumstance or where you live, you can find a way to use solar energy to power your life!