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1. I want to retrofit my home with a solar power system. Where should I start?
a. Hire a professional. For a retrofit, your only option for solar may be an active solar system…one that uses PV cells to collect the sun’s energy and convert it to electricity. An expert will be able to tell you if it’s possible to add overhangs and take advantage of your south-facing windows to create a passive system, or to see if a combination system is possible.

2. How affordable is solar power?
a. Right now, expect to pay about twice what you would for a conventional system up front. But…take advantage of all of the federal tax credits, rebates, and net metering options available to reduce the system’s equipment and installation costs…and then watch your power bill be reduced to nearly nothing…or nothing to capture the true savings of a solar system. Especially with the price of coal, gas and oil going up, up, up.

3. Should I just wait a few years to install solar power?
a. Right now may be the best time possible for solar installation. Rapidly increasing demand, increasing competition, and government incentives are making solar installation very affordable. As solar power becomes more widely used and available, the incentives will become unnecessary and they will disappear. Besides, the longer you wait, the more you’ll be spending on fossil fuels, and the bigger your CO2 footprint .

4. How many different types of solar power systems are there?
a. Basically, you can capture the sun’s energy through either a solar passive system, or a solar active system…or some combination of the two. A solar passive design system takes advantage of the sun’s warmth in the daytime by using building, and building materials to capture heat in the daytime and release it at night. Passive solar design uses one of three methods: direct gain, indirect gain, and isolated gain. A solar active system uses some type of collection system, photovoltaic (PV) cells, or some type of concentrated solar power (CSP), including parabolic trough systems and linear concentrators. The area where you live as well as the application you want to use your solar energy system for will help you determine which type of solar power system will best meet your needs.

5. How can I find financing for a solar power system for my home?
a. Like any other home improvement you are considering, home equity loans are available for solar power systems. Since having a solar power system increases the value of your home, and increases your ability to pay by reducing your power bills, talk to your mortgage broker or bank about what financing options are available.

6. Should I get more than one bid?
a. Yes. Having at least 3 different companies provide you with an estimate will allow you to see what’s available to meet your kilowatt specifications…from commercial, whole house, or water only. Looking at various component and installation choices will help you make an informed selection.

7. What happens if I generate more solar energy than I need?
a. Under a system called net metering, your utility can measure the amount of electricity your solar energy system is generating and what you are using. If you are producing more electricity than your system requires to operate, you can get credit for the excess energy, which goes into the local power grid for use by others.

8. Does one household going from fossil fuel to solar energy really make a difference in global warming?
a. The average carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by each person’s use of fossil fuel, globally, is 36,000 tons per year. For each American, the estimate is about 1/3 more…or 53,000 tons per year. If…tomorrow…every person on Earth, especially in the United States, quit using fossil fuel for heat, lights, water, and other power sources….how much less carbon dioxide not emitted into the atmosphere would that be? Hmmm…. A lot. Wouldn’t you agree?

9. Are solar power systems hard to maintain?
a. Since most solar power systems have few, or no moving parts, they are much easier to maintain than your current system. Keeping the system relatively free of debris or heavy snow is generally about all the maintenance that’s required. Low maintenance is another cost factor that’s frequently not entered into the equation for solar energy savings.

10. Where can I find more information on solar energy systems?
a. There is an increasing amount of information on solar energy systems every day on the internet. If you live in the United States, the best place to start is to get on the Department of Energy’s website at where you can find all kinds of information about solar energy and how it is being used today.