Solar Panels On A Manufactured Home Budget

Solar panels and manufactured homes are not usually discussed in the same conversation. Solar energy companies cater to the high-end clientele, those who can afford the high upfront cost of solar panel installation.

Soon, solar panels and other renewable energy resources will be available to those on a manufactured housing budget.

Thanks to the work of Clayton Home of Maryland, Tennessee, an attractive i-house has entered the manufactured home market.

The i-house features energy efficiency consistent with responsible stewardship of the earth’s resources.

Keep an eye on i-house developments at the i-house news release site or their blog.

Watch a video about the i-house.

Go ahead. Take a virtual tour of the i-house www.claytoihouse.com and see what you think.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Eco-friendly Clayton iHouse on sale, coming to a highbrow trailer park near you (engadget.com)
• Clayton Homes’ iHouse a PR Score for Warren Buffet (businesspundit.com)
• ‘i-house’ is giant leap from trailer park (msnbc.msn.com)

Renewable Energy Roundup 2009

Would you like to actually see a solar panel? Have you wondered how a solar water heater works? How about a solar powered air conditioner?

There is a great event coming where you can learn how to use solar energy in your home. The 10th annual Renewable Energy Roundup 2009 is coming September 25-27, to Fredericksburg, Texas.

Free workshops, speakers, and exhibits cover topics such as:
·    Solar
·    Wind
·    Geothermal
·    Transportation

If you’re anywhere near Central Texas in September, plan to stop by. You enjoy hanging around a group of renewable energy enthusiasts.

Where to Get Solar Energy Information

Do you want to use solar energy in your home? Given the current environmental conditions, most people are ready for renewable energy sources. But going solar requires more than flipping a switch.

Going solar requires correct information for your particular climate and circumstance and reliable solar installers.

One of the best ways to educate yourself and find reputable solar installers is the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).  Find a regional chapter of the ASES and join in.

Jumpstart your solar education. Join a local ASES chapter today.

Before you purchase that solar power system, you need to know how many panels you need to support your home energy use.

Soon after you begin the energy discovery process you learn about invisible critters called “phantom loads”  that haunt your home.

It’s hard to see evidence of these little devils but here’s a way to get visual evidence.

Make sure all the heavy electric energy users are off, like your heater or air conditioner and hot water heater and all your lights. Then go take a look at your electric meter.

I did this the other day while enjoying some free weather. The windows were open, our hot water heater was off, and I didn’t hear the refrigerator running. The house had this moment of unusual quietness.

So I went outside to take a look at the electric meter. And it was spinning! While it seemed all was off inside the house, the electric meter still indicated the house was using energy!

It was a visual reminder that those little phantoms were alive and well inside even though I couldn’t hear them.

The computer, (even when switched off), the microwave, the coffee pot (with its digital clock), all the digital clocks in the house, my sewing machine, etc, were all running as quietly as ever.

If you need evidence, watch your own electric meter.

Then go get yourself a few power strips!

Solar Energy Grant Search

Are there any home owners out there searching for grants for solar energy?

The Alternate Energy Sources site may help. There are links to various helpful sources whether you want an energy efficient home or want an alternative fuel car.

Check them out here.

Calculating the Solar Energy Price Tag   What-You-Want-Most Math

Solar energy systems, as with other alternative energy systems, carry a hefty price tag. Promoters of these energy saving systems point out the long-term benefits of having such a system installed in a home.

These long-term benefits are lower operating costs, low maintenance, and in some cases, no monthly energy bill at all.

I personally like the “no monthly energy bill” benefit.

It’s true that I want our country to be energy independent.

It’s also true that I feel an obligation to our Maker to take care of the planet and the people he sends here.

But in the day-to-day operations of daily life there are pressing needs of food and shelter for the family, clothes for the family, health and exercise needs for the family, and education for the kids (have you looked at college tuition lately?).

I must admit that when I do the what-matters-most math, solar energy gets pushed further down the list, mainly because of the hefty up-front costs.

Given our current national economy, we are all asking more questions. Now is a good time to be doing the alternative energy what-matters-most math for three (3) reasons.

1.    The recent stimulus package, with its tax credits, lowers the alternative energy systems by 30 percent.
2.    And further tax credits may be available from your local energy provider or your state. Check here for tax credits and incentives which apply to you.
3.    The recent stimulus package expands to include home energy efficiency improvements.

The third reason is our reason for hope. Making your home as energy efficient as possible reduces the size of alternative energy system your home requires.

So before installing a new energy system, get yourself a home energy audit. Find out how to make your home as energy efficient as possible.
Chances are good that your energy efficiency improvement costs will have a nice rebate or incentive attached, lowering even your efficiency measures.

Do begin the what-you-want-most math, visit the database of state incentives for information that applies to you.

How Does Solar Electric Power Work?

How does solar electric power work anyway?

You like the idea of going solar. But life is busy. Solar electric seems too complicated to implement when there doesn’t seem you have enough time to research the idea.

Installing solar panels falls in the category of home remodeling. It does take thought and planning.

But following are a couple short videos that give you the basic overview of how solar electric works.

Here’s a quick video from John Schaeffer of Real Goods Solar giving the short-and-sweet explanation: How Solar Panels Work.

If you have another minute, check out one more video here: Go Solar: How & Why

Solar Power – Is It Right For You?

Do you want a solar powered home? I sure do. Although technology improves and solar panel prices fall, going solar can still be a daunting process.

Have you ever wondered if solar power is right for you?

Well, Mother Earth News has a great article to help you with this question.

The article helps guide you through the three (3) main question:
1.    Do you have a south-facing space (not necessarily a south facing roof!)
2.    How much will your solar-electric system cost for your needs
3.    Will solar power save you money in the long-term.

Personally, we are working on question two (2). Reducing our electric needs – that is how much electricity we use – will reduce the cost of our solar-electric system.

If you want to work on that with us, join our Home Energy Conservation Challenge.

Here’s a quote from the Mother Earth News article:

if you’re considering solar power, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your own daily habits. “It’s very important to understand how your electricity is being billed and what your electric usage is. There might be ways to minimize your charges (are you running appliances during peak hours?) and minimize your usage (are you already using energy-efficient light bulbs?) so that you don’t need as big of a system.”

Want to reduce the initial cost of your solar-electric system? We invite you to join our energy challenge!

Energy Conservation by Individual Choice

The mission here at Simple Home Solar Energy is to “go solar.” The goal is to eventually produce all the energy our home requires. The process to turn our home into a solar energy generator is documented here, in this blog.

Not being a trained engineer or a scientist, I research a lot. I depend on qualified folk for proper information. The research must be careful since every one these days uses the “g-word” (green) to promote themselves and/or their products.

Even politicians freely use the “g-word” (green) to promote their lofty political promises and get votes because they know what we care about.

But government cannot make a healthy environment; they flaunt green-ness hoping we will notice.

Scientists cannot make a clean environment; they cannot even agree with each other.

Businesses cannot make a green environment; they can only sell us what we will buy.

Our culture likes to blame government, business, the economy, our educational system, religion, our mother, our neighbors, etc. for the environment. If we blame others, we don’t have to make changes ourselves.

The truth is our environmental and economic situation is complicated. There are no easy answers. There are no quick fixes.

Dawn Killough wrote an excellent article about each of us taking responsibility for the way we live on our planet. I agree with her that the answer to our situation is to do what we can, “one thing at a time.”

It was Gandi who said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

If I want a greener, healthier environment, I must make greener choices.

Frankly, I’d like to go out and buy solar panels today. It’s the right thing to do; but I can’t afford it!

So I’m doing things slowly, one thing at a time, in this order.
1.    Conservation
2.    Efficiency
3.    Solar energy

Want to join the slow-but-steady path to responsible energy use?

Join the Energy Conservation Challenge coming in February. Sign up for the “10 Simple Steps to Reduce Your Energy Costs.” We will email you about the challenge when we get the details worked out.

Solar Panel Prices Fall

USA Today reports some good news in the bad economy. The cost of rooftop solar systems are down 8 to 10 percent since October. Prices on rooftop solar systems are expected to fall another 15 to 20 percent over the course of the year.

This is good news for solar energy fans on a budget!

For the past four (4) months we have had our house on an energy diet. The plan is to reduce our energy consumption to the minimum kWh usage per day for acceptable comfort. Then we will be able to afford a solar panel system.

The idea is that the less electric energy used, the smaller solar system the house needs. A smaller solar system means a budget friendly cost.

With solar panels as well as panel installation cost dropping, this may be the year to “go solar.” And with a larger federal tax credit this year, the effective prices could drop as much as 50 percent.

According to the article, a $32,000 solar energy system could be as low as $10,000 to $20,000 (based on California prices and state and federal incentives).

In his article, Mr. Davidson reports that “consumers can reap even bigger gains if they can buy in a recession.”

In other words, solar panel systems are going on sale!

If you find great deals on solar panel in your area of the country let us know!
And, if you are interested in joining the Energy Conservation Challenge beginning in February, let us know by signing up for the “10 Simple Steps to Reduce Your Energy Costs” over on the right. We will email you about the challenge when we get the details worked out.