Should You Install Solar Panels?


I recently had the chance to talk to representatives of Westinghouse Solar about the company's new solar panels for residential applications.

They explained that they're not as costly as people think. And as panels from Westinghouse are easily connected to each other, you can start small and add additional panels in the future. Now, don't get me wrong...they're still quite expensive, costing in the tens of thousands of dollars, but with the incentives that are offered, installing them may be the home improvement project you want to tackle next.

How do solar panels work? They're installed on your roof and connected directly into your electrical panel, usually in the basement.  When the panels are generating electricity (on sunny days), your appliances draw electricity from them instead of from the power company. When  the panels aren't producing energy (during the night or on cloudy days) and your home needs electricity, it gets drawn from the electric company. The whole operation is seamless to you and you don't need to do anything to switch from one electrical source to another. The best part is that when the panels are generating electricity but your home doesn't need any (during the day when everyone is at work and all your appliances are off) that electricity gets fed BACK to the electric company and you get a credit on your bill.

As great as this sounds, it's only worthwhile if you get plenty of sunlight where the panels will be installed. Westinghouse told me that the best place to put them is on the south-facing roof surface on a north-facing house. No trees should be blocking the sunlight.  If this isn't the case, using solar panels may not be worth the money for you.

There are many state and federal tax incentives available to you if you have a home where this is a viable project. For great state-by-state information see the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

You can find out more information on energy conservation by checking out Good Housekeeping's stories on Smart Meters, EnergyGuide label news, New Energy Star Requirements and How a White Roof may be an easy solution!