Solar & Wind Packages

Using Solar Power

• Energy produced during daylight hours and stored in a battery bank can power your home's lights at night. Indoor lights draw energy from the battery storage, while outdoor lights have self-contained solar cells that retain the energy collected from the sun and provide power after dark. The home can be heated by circulating warm air from solar collector panels, and cooled by the installation of fans operated by power from the solar electricity system. Your hot water cylinder can be fed by an integrated solar panel that pre-warms the water in the panel. Solar power is effective in most applications where the collector panels get at least five hours of direct sunlight per day.

Using Wind Energy

• Wind energy is the process of using wind to produce electricity. This is done by installing a turbine whose blades are turned by the wind. Once they reach a speed of 7 mph or higher, the blades activate the spinning of a shaft that is connected to a generator, and this creates electricity. The power is stored in batteries from where it provides energy to the home through the circuit breaker. Wind energy is best used in regions where wind speeds are an average of nine miles per hour at least half of the time.

System Costs

• Both wind and solar systems offer noticeable savings on energy bills, after the initial investment. A professionally installed solar energy system for an average family home costs around $3,000 to $4,000, but DIY systems can be made for much less. A wind energy system is significantly more expensive, with professional installations retailing at between $35,000 and $50,000. However, there is funding available for the installation of renewable energy, and a grant offered by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) covers up to "30% of property that is part of a qualified facility, qualified fuel cell property, solar property, or qualified small wind property, and 10% of all other property" (See References 1). Some states, for example Arkansas, offer additional incentives that help to reduce the payback time of the investment.

Package Installations

• Customized wind and solar packages can be obtained from qualified solar energy companies in most states, and the installer will tailor the price to suit your requirements and your budget. The package should include all the components you need for your application, and full installation and commissioning. Make sure that the work is guaranteed and that professional servicing and regular maintenance is included in the agreement.