Sep 22 2008
Residential Solar Power Installation Guidelines
Before you go out and invest in an expensive residential solar power system, you are going to want to make sure a couple things are in order first. First off, make sure your home is a good candidate for the system. Many homes out there do not make wise choices for residential solar power, so figure out if you have one that is right for this kind of power.
Determining If Your Home Is Right For Residential Solar Power
The first thing to consider is what kind of climate you have. People I Phoenix and Southern California are much better clients for residential solar power than people in Seattle Washington. That is not to say that people in Seattle can not use solar power energy in their homes, just that their investment to return will probably be lower than someone in the sunny southwest.
The next thing to consider is how old your home is. Older homes frequently do not make as good a use out of residential solar power as newer homes because the cost to update the home to where solar power is viable is often very high. Old windows, appliances, and insulation techniques make older homes very difficult to keep warm and power. This is not to say that they would not benefit from a complete overhaul of their systems, just that it will be significantly more expensive than in a newer or brand new home.
After that is done you need to take a look at how much power you use on a monthly basis. Past electric bills should have this information on there. Again, this is not to say that if you use too much power you are not a good candidate for residential solar power, just that the gains you get from it will not be as great as someone else. I feel that just about anyone can benefit from residential solar power, but it is up to you to decide whether it is worth it to invest in the system.
That should just about it do it. Look through all those items and at the very least you will have a better idea of what your home power consumption looks like. Hopefully even if you decide not to go with residential solar power, this will help you to save money on your electricity bill long term. While that is nice for you, in the long run it will help all of us.
Campaign Urges Restaurants to Take Marlin Off the Menu
(ARA) - The next time you’re in a restaurant and see marlin on the menu, “just say no.” That’s the message of a new, nationwide campaign called “Take Marlin Off the Menu,” which is urging consumers to stop eating marlin, and restaurants to take marlin and other [...]
By Pegah Aarabi
(NC)—The holiday party season doesn’t have to be strenuous for you or the environment. Add a “green” theme to your party to liven things up and do your part. Here are six ways to turn your next holiday event into a “greeny” good time.
1. Serve organic drinks and foods. Offer organic fruits, vegetables, [...]
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To help take money out of the gas tank this fall and put it back into the classroom, school districts across the country are switching to propane-fueled buses as a means of coping with swelling diesel costs. And the lesson that families and schools are learning is more than simple economics. While it’s cheaper than [...]
The green building and remodeling movement puts great emphasis on natural lighting, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. Moving air through our homes and distributing light can be, and usually is, accomplished by a combination of mechanical and passive means, with a fan and an open window for example. But, in today’s technical world, what’s [...]