Tuesday, August 31st, 2010...1:52 am

Should You Create Your Own Household Power

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When the sun starts setting before 5 p.m., solar power may be the last thing on your mind. With the rebates that are being offered by manufactures and state, local and federal agencies, it might be the best time for someone to find out the facts.

If you are thinking that you’d like to go solar within the next few years, right now is the time to do it because Oregon solar panels are on sale right now, and there is a sweet spot where the state rebates are still relatively high, but the costs have come down. The coldest time of the year could be the right time for the best deal. Not many people are looking to do these types of projects at this time of year so it is possible to find discounts. If you’re thinking about going solar, here’s a checklist of things to think about.

Find out what kind of power you consume you average during the course of the past year or so. This information is available through your monthly statement if you have the records available.

You might know how much you pay, but are you aware of how much power you use? Electricity is charged by the kilowatt hour. Some people use as little as 300 kWh per month; others easily use more than 1,200 kWh a month so for some people greendiyenergy is a much better investment for people who use a lot of electricity. The idea of going green is gaining in popularity and a person can find that they are rewarded financially by various state agencies for doing so.

Make sure you know your home. How old is your roof, and what kind of shape is it in? If your roof is due to be replaced, you’ll want to do that before, or along with, adding solar. Was your home designed in a way that would support a system? Does it face south? Are there trees that cover your house? Your roof should have clear, unobstructed access to the sun for most of the day and be free from shade from trees or other buildings.

Shop around. Ask friends and neighbors who have already installed solar power if they’ve been happy with their systems or go online and check out some greendiyenergy review to find out what has worked for others and what pitfalls you should be aware of.

Learn about financing options. Will you borrow the money, or take it out of savings and will it give you a return on your investment over the long haul. You don’t have to go completely green if you don’t want to. Interview at least three potential installers and obtain bids in writing before making a decision. Whatever the salesperson tells you should be in writing in the contract.

Follow up on all of the incentives that you are entitled to receive by taking on this project. These rebates can make the cost of a system a lot more palatable for most people.

Remember that over time your requirements for power are going to fluctuate and you will want to be able to adapt your system with the changes. If you do other renovations or add ons to your home you might find a need to create more electricity in the future.

There is no substitute for research. If everything about this project is favorable, then follow through. And enjoy the idea of helping the environment.

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