Solar Energy Question!!?

Question

I need to know how much you would save if you purchased solar panels to completely cover heat, electricity, and water heating in a typical independent home in canada. I pay 3000 a year.

Answer 1

Right now, you would probably save nothing at all.   Commercially available solar photovoltaic systems have very very long paybacks.   Often much longer than the life of the solar panels themselves.   Without heavy subsidies, or very very high electric rates, solar energy is a loser right now.

This is expected to change in the next 5 to 10 years.  There is a new solar PV technology (thin film PV) that is expected to greatly reduce manufacturing costs for panels.   But right now, solar is a lot more expensive than regular power.

By the way, I develop alternative energy projects for a living, so I'm not a knee-jerk pessimist about this stuff.  I would LOVE to see solar PV be more cost competitive.   But right now, it's simply not.  Sorry.

Answer 2

For heat and hot water, you may wish to consider

a geothermal heat pump

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_...

Answer 3

if u use all ur money to save energy u will go broke start doing little things to help the environment

Answer 4

In all honesty if you completely switched to your own solar power you wouldn't pay a die because you would be off the grid.  The only thing you would have to pay is for the panels themselves, which can be expensive.  The only problem that could surface is if you don't live in a relatively sunny area, then you couldn't run entirely off solar power so you would have to do a mix of gridded power and independent power.  It is a very good idea if you can afford it and the conditions are right.

Answer 5

I have Solar and wind power and not enof sun or wind to

keep them going. What I do have payed off in the 2st year

I had them I normally pay $160 per mounth with the pannels or wind gen and with them some are as low as $12

If you install your self and do your own up keep it will save

I add on each year  

looking for heat pannels this year.

http://www.cvvhf.org/kb9pjl/greenside.ht...

Answer 6

I don't think you can completely cover your electricity with solar panels in Canada, but I say you could save around 1000$

Answer 7

most "solutions" to environmental problems are designed to do only that, and at your extra expense. not saying to s***w the environment, but if your going to help it, it will  cost you more money. same thing goes for cars to. if you buy a hybrid, you probably wouldn't be saving money until some years.