Solar tech supersizes savings

Flickr photo by david.nikonvscanon.

When you think of "solar energy," you probably envision those big ugly solar silicon panels from the past. Today, homeowners have exciting options not only for powering their entire home but for also using solar energy to power their laptops, cell phones, and even their car batteries when there is a power outage or when they are traveling.

With oil prices climbing once again it makes sense to look for energy alternatives. There are a number of different ways that you can increase your energy efficiency simply by managing the sun's energy.

1. Window coverings
Our home has a tremendous number of windows that capitalize on the great view. The challenge is those windows can heat up our house by an additional 20 to 30 degrees if they are not covered in the summertime. They also lower the interior temperature during the winter. If you live in an area that has hot temperatures, solar shades can cut your energy costs significantly. Another option is to add solar film to your windows. This is similar to the tinting that many cars have and cuts down on the amount of radiant heat inside your home.

2. Radiant barriers
Approximately 93 percent of the ceiling heat during the summer results from heat being absorbed by the shingles and then being transferred through the roofing materials into the attic. While traditional insulation absorbs some of this heat, a considerable amount still passes into the interior living spaces. Installing a radiant barrier can lower your attic temperatures by almost 30 degrees. Radiant-barrier manufacturers claim that using a radiant barrier can block 97 percent of the radiant heat coming from the roofing. This can result in up to a 50 percent savings on your air conditioning bill.

To give you an example, our former home was 3,200 square feet and was well shaded by numerous oak trees. It had high-quality insulation but no radiant barrier. We installed a radiant barrier when we built our current 4,500-square-foot home. Even with the increase in energy costs, one additional refrigerator, huge windows, plus 60 days of 100-degree-plus temperatures (where the average is normally 12 days), our electric bill is running only $40 more per month than before.

3. Metal roofs
Another solar-efficient option is to replace your shingle roof with metal. The metal reflects the sun and functions much like a radiant barrier.

4. Solar panel systems
A few days ago, I received an advertisement from a company that was selling solar panel systems. The cost of a solar panel system was $23,975. The company went on to explain about all the rebates that lowered the price even more:

City energy rebate of $3.75 per watt equals $11,222
Company rebate of $2 per watt equals $6,300
Total rebates equal $17,522
Net cost ($23,975 minus $17,522) equals $6,453 ...CONTINUED

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