Dear EarthTalk: I am considering solar panels for my roof to provide heat for my hot water and possibly to do more than that. Are there some kinds of solar panels that are better than others? How do I find a knowledgeable installer?
-- Elise, Watertown, MA

What type of solar energy capture system you put on your home depends on your needs. If you want to go full tilt and generate usable electricity from your home’s rooftop—and even possibly contribute power back to the larger grid—tried and true photovoltaic arrays might be just the ticket. A typical installation involves the panels, which are constructed of many individual silicon-based photovoltaic cells and their support structures, along with an inverter, electrical conduit piping and AC/DC disconnect switches.

These systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars to install, and as such may not pencil out for those looking for the cheapest power solution. But the upside is that homeowners with photovoltaic panels on their rooftops can rest assured that as long as the sun shines, they will have power to spare without generating emissions of carbon dioxide and other noxious pollutants.

Qualified solar installers can usually advise clients on which specific types of systems will work best given the specific location of a home. U.S. homeowners can find qualified photovoltaic installers via the website FindSolar.com. And the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) provides a free searchable database of its U.S. and Canadian members specializing in home solar set-ups.

For less demanding applications, such as for heating water for your home or swimming pool, a much simpler (and less expensive) solar thermal system might be all you need. A basic hot water system usually consists of a solar collector—basically a small metal box with a glass or plastic cover and a black copper or aluminum absorber plate inside—tied into the building’s plumbing and electrical works. According to the industry tracker website Solarbuzz, such solar collectors are usually mounted on rooftops.

Professional installers can get your home up and running with a solar thermal system for less than $4,000 in most cases. While the savings in your electric bill may be small, homeowners in it for the long haul will definitely save over time, all the while enjoying the fact that you have lowered your family’s carbon footprint significantly.

Homeowners looking to find out more about residential solar systems should be sure to check out the RealGoods Solar Living Sourcebook, a 600+ page renewable energy “bible” now in its 30th edition. The book features the latest nuts-and-bolts information on how to harvest renewable energy in a variety of ways depending on need. And RealGoods also sells much if not all of the equipment needed.

Another reason to consider going solar in one fashion or another is tax incentives. According to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), 17 states now offer homeowners some kind of tax rebate or incentive for the purchase and/or installation of solar power equipment of any kind. You can see what if any your state offers by logging onto the dsireusa.org website, where the searchable database is available in its entirety for free.

CONTACTS: Solarbuzz, www.solarbuzz.com; FindSolar.com, www.findsolar.com; NABCEP, www.nabcep.org; RealGoods, www.realgoods.com; DSIRE, www.dsireusa.org.

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15 Comments

1. 1. Quasimodo 08:50 PM 8/27/08

   The response to Elise, of Watertown, MA was poor at best. The responder should have answered Elise's questions one by one. Instead, the Answer Being went right for solar voltaics. Phooey. Elise first asked about solar heat energy collectors. That should have been well and fully dealt with before going into photo voltaics. This is where and why the go-betweens - the ones between the engineer-scientist and the question asker - are needed. I refer to those who can listen/read carefully the question then give the answers in bite-sized bits. That's not what happened here. There's a good reason engineers generally aren't very good answer sources for the common consumer. Thank goodness for media beings, the go-betweens!

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2. 2. wordsworm 11:37 PM 8/27/08

   I had a landlord who ran some black hose along his roof before entering his hot water tank, which saved him about $15/month (he paid for the electricity for the two units). I think that cost him less than $100. Heck, if you don't mind luke warm showers, there's nothing to say that you can't forgo the cost of heating water altogether.

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3. 3. BQ 12:02 AM 8/28/08

   I have for years now kept up withthe solar ,home farm aplications . enstalled wind and solar together v,finding this to be the way to go,or intotal electric homes the solar hot water, is a great money saver at present I am enrolling in a 2year turbine tech class.if you would like to talk or get startedon yhe many diffent ways to get started drop me a mail quaderobert@yahoo.com .then I'll share my phone number .i am into this by my self and do the total installations .i do have 2 company who hire me to do there installs .(i'm well qualified)one sugestion get started asap the cost is risind daily .Bob Quade after 7 #405 824-8377

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4. 4. davea0511 08:45 PM 8/28/08

   20-40% of the average home's heating cost goes to heating water. The article says "the savings in your electric bill may be small", which is unfortunate. If she has an electric heater the savings may be as much as 40% of her electric. That's not small at all, as she should recoup her investment within just a few years, and then save at least $50/month after that. That's of course, a best case scenario, but I think the author here does a horrible disservice to solar thermal - a common practice among so-called energy pundits.

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5. 5. ViliCampione 06:17 AM 8/29/08

   Don't try to make solar to a religion. Please list solar solutions in order of payback time. Most people won't invest if payback time exceeds 5 years.

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6. 6. Innov8or 06:53 PM 8/29/08

   I agree with the above that it was a poor answer. My suggestion: build it with black tubing such as abs and lay lengths next to each other horizontaly. Connect the ends with elbows so the water enters the bottom tube and zig-zags its way to the top. (I am assuming that this is on a sloped roof). This arrangement will produce a neet rectangular collector. Now the important part, put a box around it with a glass window on top. The Glass will trap the heat in the box like a greenhouse.

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7. 7. gh10677 07:02 AM 9/1/08

   Hello:
   I am magister in electrical engineering, and I seek a doctor about in solar energy aid me.
   Email:glaouih@yahoo.fr
   Greetings

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8. 8. gh10677 07:05 AM 9/1/08

   Hello:
   I am magister in electrical engineering, and I seek a doctor about in solar energy help me.
   Email:glaouih@yahoo.fr
   Greetings

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9. 9. theonlybiker11 04:42 AM 9/2/08

   I live in the northeast section of N.J. USA . we have no appreciable wind. Solar is spotty and doesn't recoup your outlay for many years due to not enough sun. any suggestions for me? comments from posters or pros?

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10. 10. ViliCampione 05:22 AM 9/2/08

    To theonlybiker11. Use a heat pump for heating. 75 % of the heat delivered is "coming from the sun", the rest is electricity. In tiny Sweden (pop. about 8 million) there are 700000 heat pumps working, because it's economical.

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11. 11. solarguy 08:53 PM 10/14/08

    The site Findsolar.com is now a for-profit company. The free public service site is now www.Find-Solar.org

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12. 12. solarguy 08:55 PM 10/14/08

    The correct link for Solar Estimates and finding a Solar installer is www.Find-Solar.org .... the link in the article (Findsolar .com) goes to a for-profit company ... www.Find-Solar.org is the free public service that is better to use.

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13. 13. chuckFrizell 10:37 PM 5/15/09

    if anybody is looking for more information on how to install solar panels, here is a great resource for smart homeowners who are sick of paying too much http://budurl.com/homeenergyresources - this kind of thing is especially useful in these tough economic times. highly recommended. here's the link: http://budurl.com/homeenergyresources
    

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14. 14. GreenMagGuy 01:31 PM 8/17/10

    Great advice! If you want to find a great deal on solar panels and solar hot water heaters goto: http://www.greenplanetparadise.com

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15. 15. malayleh 07:45 PM 8/20/11

    Licensed, insured and bonded all-in-one solar panels service provider. We offer free consultation, custom solar design, professional installation and ongoing system monitoring. http://www.highlightsolar.com

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