ConstructionDeal.com Update

One of my neighbors has a solar power system on his roof. I've talked about the installation process because I've been considering it for my house here in Los Angeles.

It's not just the "green" incentive either... well, money is green, I guess. And you can save a lot of it switching to solar power.

My neighbor had it installed a few years ago and he told me it was in the ten thousand dollar range (plus installation) to have the panels put up. It should cost more now, but I haven't looked into it. He said that the solar panel company that installed it helped to arrange a loan and the electric company provided incentives along with multiple tax credits. His house faces west, so he had to put them on the front of the house which doesn't look great, but... he said he rarely pays an electric bill anymore.

A typical 2 kilowatt (kw) residential rooftop PV system produces about 3,600 kw hours per year. This is about half the electricity usage for an average LA home. By substituting sun power for fossil fuels, this system avoids the need to make electricity by burning 3.7 tons of coal. In turn, approximately 10,000 lbs. of global warming greenhouse gases do not enter the atmosphere. Which is good.

You stay a part of "the grid." When the sun shines, you should be able to generate more power than your home consumes and your electric meter will spin backwards generating a credit. At night you'll draw on utility company power, essentially using the electrical grid as a giant battery.

But the incentives are nice, too. For a quick example, LA is offering a $2000 tax credit. There are incentives that provide "buydown" assistance to cover up to half of the installation costs. And the payback period (the time it takes to pay back the investment) is usually only a few years.

Check and see if you city or state has any solar power programs.

To find solar energy system installers, go to ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast and easy way to find solar contractors. Submit a project and get 4 quotes in a matter of hours. At no cost.

Labels: Solar Panel Installation, Solar Power Systems

I watched the show "Global Warming: What You Need to Know with Tom Brokaw" on the Discovery Channel last night. A very informative and eye-opening experience. Many are worried about the dangers of excessive greenhouse gasses but it seems like such a huge problem that many wonder - what can they do?

I think it would be too much to ask for everyone to suddenly give it all up (sell their SUV, go completely solar, and start their own farm) but it was great to see some suggestions we could implement immediately. Our goal, overall, to reducing global warming, is to reduce what's called our greenhouse gas footprint. How much we personally contribute to the problem. The show talked about a few easy solutions and I wanted to share them with you.

First, you could make a very simply change tonight -- stop by the store on your way home and buy some fluorescent bulbs. If every home in America replaced just one bulb in their house with one of these bulbs, it would help tremendously. These fluorescent bulbs were more expensive than the incandescent bulbs found in most homes but not as much anymore. And they last up to 10 times as long. And each fluorescent (CFL) bulb will lower your energy bills by about $15 a year, and by more than $60 during its life. It will also keep half a ton of carbon dioxide and mercury out of the air.

Next, you could replace most of our old appliances with new energy efficient ones. Not only will it cut down on the greenhouse gasses used to keep them running, but your energy bills will be lower, too. For example, refrigerators consume the most electricity in your home. Today's refrigerators consume less than one-fourth the energy of models built 30 years ago.

Finally, you could drive smarter. I'm not saying you need to buy a Toyota Prius (yet :) but you can make your current vehicle more efficient. By replacing your filters, tuning up your car, and keep your tires inflated, you'll keep your car from having to work as hard. If everyone kept their tires properly inflated, gas use nationwide would drop 2 percent. A tuneup could increase your miles per gallon from 4 to 40 percent; a new air filter could bump your mpg by 10 percent.

Click Here For more info on the Discovery Channel Global Warming special

If you're ready to make your home more green, you should consider talking with companies about energy alternatives, greening your home, or getting a home energy audit.

It's a fast, free and easy way to find greener contractors at ConstructionDeal.com!

Labels: Green Remodeling, Solar Panel Installation, Solar Power Systems