Fear Power Outages? Invest in Solar Energy
August 16, 2010 – 8:56 pm by MarinaHanes
A power outage can hit your home, neighborhood and town any second. You could experience a loss of electricity for a few minutes, a few hours or even a few days depending on what caused the issue. Between human error and overloaded transformers, the odds of power loss increases, and when it happens, you lose out on so much (microwave, refrigerator/freezer, possibly water, air conditioning, heat, etc.). Unless you’re already acquiring energy off of the grid, solar panel investments should be a future goal.
One downside about solar panels is the cost. Installation can be a $20,00 to $30,000 expense, and even with tax credits, you’re looking at a hefty investment. If solar energy equipment and installation were not so pricey, more homeowners and businesses would be reaping the energy efficiency. But how about purchasing a DIY solar panel system for $800?
Clarian and Sunfish are two companies who may be working together to bring solar energy to all through a simple plug ‘n play installation. Sunfish’s solar panel kit includes the panels, mounting system and circuit monitor, and Clarian hopes to capitalize on the idea and retail it for under a grand. Although this system can’t supply energy to your entire home, it at least can provide power to the refrigerator. This partnership is still in progress, and Clarian is in the market for UL certification for Sunfish.
It’s DIY solar panel kits such as this that will enable homeowners of varying economic status save money on utilities and be less affected by power outages.
Tags: electricity usage, installing solar panels, power outage, solar panel investment