How Much do Solar Panels Cost

With the cost of energy skyrocketing around the world, more and more people are starting to ask the question, how much do solar panels cost?

Not long ago, solar panels were an intriguing option for people who lived in very sunny areas are were interested in reducing their carbon footprint. Until recently, however, the extremely high cost of installing solar panels turned many people off to the idea of giving solar energy a try. These days it’s a different story. Not only have solar panels gotten more affordable, but they have also become much more efficient. Smaller panels generate exponentially more energy than the very large panels produced a few years ago. They have also gotten better at producing useful amounts of energy in areas where there are less sunny days. All in all, solar panels have really arrived in the mainstream market as a viable, practical form of renewable energy for home use. This article will address the question, how much do solar panels cost?, while also providing some basic energy about solar energy.

While solar panels are becoming more affordable, calculating how much they actually cost can be a tricky equation. There are many factors that need to be factored in such as the price of the solar panels, and the cost of installing them at your home, and the cost of maintaining your solar system. Factored against those figures is the money you will save on your energy bill and the value that solar panels add to your home.

A ballpark estimate for the cost of materials is between five and ten dollars per watt of energy that your solar panels create. You can estimate how many watts of energy you use each month by consulting your energy bill. Ideally, you would average your monthly wattage over the course of a year, since homes typically use the most energy in the peak summer and winter months. The size of your home is not as important as how much energy you use and how much sunlight your house receives when figuring the amount of wattage you would need from your solar system.

Having someone professionally install your solar panels, wiring, inverter box, et cetera, is the most convenient, but also the most expensive route to go. An average single family home can expect to pay as much as $30,000 for this complete system. While this seems like a great deal of money for most people, there are things to consider that make this investment easier to swallow.

Tremendous state and federal incentives are now being offered for people who choose to make their homes more energy efficient. The website DSIRE is funded by the United States Department of Energy and has a complete database of all state, local, utility, and federal incentives that are offered in your area. In some cases, these incentives cover as much as eighty percent of the total cost for installation. At these savings, you will likely recoup your investment in less than ten years. If you plan to stay in your home longer than that, you will eventually be making money on the deal.

One of the most important innovations in solar energy has been the increasing number of companies that sell do-it-yourself solar panel installation kits. Websites like Solar Kits sell everything you need to install your own solar system, from the panels to wiring diagrams and mounting kits. Kits are available for the home, RV, boat, cabin, and even commercial applications. You can install these systems at tremendous savings, sometimes as much as a quarter of the cost of a professional installation.

Of course if you decide to go this route, you need to be realistic about your abilities as an installer. You are dealing with electricity, and you'll be up on your roof attaching large pieces of equipment to your house. If you're not comfortable performing this kind of work, you will be much better served having a professional install your system.

Some other resources for solar kits are Solar Energy Pal, Silicon Solar, and Solar Home.

While the initial investment is still significant for most homeowners, the combination of tax incentives and do-it-yourself options have made solar energy much more possible than it was just a few years ago. Make sure you really do your homework before you commit to a particular system or installation plan. Adding solar panels to your home is a great investment, but you need to make sure you do it right.

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