we are looking to buy a house with solar panels, 2 are new, 3 are older. The panels are a big plus in my book, but I’d like to know how much do they reduce your heat bills? what are the pros and cons? maintenance headaches? Thanks for any info or helpful links.
More Pages:
- Solar Power: How Much Money Would It Cost To Put Solar Panels At My School Versus The Cost Of Wind Power At My School? (1/8/2012)
- Solar Energy: Solar Water Heater Information? (8/3/2011)
- Solar Energy: Does Anyone Know About Solar Energy? (2/22/2012)
- Solar Panel: What Save More Electricity? Solar Panels Over Half My Roof, Or Trees Covering Half My Roof? (10/3/2011)
- What are the pros and cons of ‘green’ products?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Really depends on how much power they generate. Find out the voltage output and the amperage on an average day. I would be very much surprised if the output was anything to crow about.
Each square meter of earth only gets about 1hp (750W) worth of power from the sun. Then you take the efficiency of the solar panels (you’ll be lucky if you get more than 10%) and it won’t make a dent in your power usage unless your whole roof is covered.
As far as maintenance is concerned, you got to keep them clean
Buy a villa in Mexico and don’t worry about heat bills.
Hi,
You asked for anything so here goes.
If you are buying the house with out paying extra for the solar panels then you are getting free power……maybe. Personally I would not buy a house with them. They are ugly and you need to keep them clean. Ask if you can get a reduced price because they are there. ha
A lot depends too on where you are located. If you are somewhere like AZ then they would get enough sun to do some good. Since you are paying heat bills I assume you are somewhere else.
Does the system use banks of batteries to store power?
If so the batteries are only going to last 3 to 5 years before they need to be replaced. Depending on how many there are, it could get very expensive.
If you are way out in the sticks and can not get a power line run to your house without great expense then the solar or wind power becomes a lot more attractive.
Good luck,
Bob