DIY Skills
Modesto DIY Fest Summer Performance
Trash Orchestra returns to Modesto. Summer is here and what better way to celebrate beautiful weather than to spend it building autonomous networks through DIY skill sharing and workshops encompassing a world we won’t compromise any other way than complete anti-capitalist green sustainability.
DIY Solar Power – Surprising Cost Savings!
Article by Paul Finley
You might not know the facts and figures of solar power (and we can give you a few of them), but more importantly, the costs are surprising. If you’re looking for cheap home solar power, here’s how to make sure your surprise is not a nasty one, but a nice one!
Typical Usage
What is the average power consumption of typical house? Well, it varies significantly depending on the location, size and design of the property.
However, if we take the US as a whole, the average is 8900 kWh per year (roughly 24 kWh per day). In the UK the average is somewhat less, at around 3500 kWh power consumption per year (or just under 10 kWh per day).
Each square metre of the Earth receives about 250 Watts of solar energy. This is equivalent to 2190 kWh of energy per year (or 6 kWh per square metre per day), though of course this also varies by location. Nonetheless, if we could harness a few square metres of this energy it will give us enough to meet our needs.
If you’re looking for cheap home solar power, this all comes for free! But there’s an investment cost for turning the sun’s rays into a usable electric current. Let’s consider the figures.
Commercial Cost
Let’s aim for an achievable 2.5 kW system which would go a long way to offsetting this energy consumption.
However, a typical commercially sold, professionally installation solar energy systems would cost you the best part of USD 15,000 to 20,000, or GBP 10,000 to 15,000 (very nasty!). This would be needed as an up-front investment.
Yes, the system will eventually pay for itself, if you can wait about 10 to 15 years! For most people this is an exorbitant capital investment that will not yield a viable return in a reasonable time. Hence they won’t buy it!
If we want cheap home solar power, we will have to look for an alternative.
Government Grant
Many governments are experiencing the rising costs of fossil fuels, plus seeing the effects of climate change. They are increasingly keen to promote renewable energy sources. These may be large schemes, such as wind turbines or wave power systems. But there is some help for the local small scale initiatives.
In the UK and in certain states in the US, there are incentive schemes to encourage people to invest in solar energy, and install home solar panels. these can help to reduce the cost.
However even with a home renewable energy grant of USD 4000 or GBP 2500, this will still leave you to find about 80% of the bill! So this is still a major investment, not really cheap home solar power!
DIY Alternative!
Well, it is not all bad news! Let’s put aside the commercial prices on professional installation and ask: how much does it actually cost to build a solar power panel?
The truth is, if you do it yourself, each panel could cost you less than USD 150 or GBP 100 (very nice!). OK, you need a few more inexpensive components to complete the system (a dc-ac converter and a battery), but you can build a system for a mere fraction of the cost of the commercial price.
Many people think that because it looks expensive and high-tech, it must be costly and difficult to make. Not at all! If you have a few basic DIY skills, then cheap home solar power is easily within reach. All the materials are inexpensive, and the few tools you need are readily at hand.
You can build solar panels that are as effective and efficient as any commercially bought ones. They are just as safe, just as easy to maintain, and at a fraction of the cost. And what’s more, you can start simply and add extra panels whenever you have the time and inclination.
I’d recommend you get yourself an easy guide that shows you step by step that shows you what to do. There are some very good ones available.
Value Added
Once you’ve installed your first DIY solar power panels, you’ll not only get cheap home solar power, but you’ll find an added benefit too. Energy efficiency increases the value of your home. So you could find your property value rises by 10 to 15%. Hence this is an extra return on your investment!
Maybe that’s an added incentive to begin now!
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Dream Homes Country: 100 Inspirational Interiors
DIY Skills – click on the image below for more information.
DIY Skills
Features 100 inspirational country homes from around the world. Comprehensively illustrated with 800 photographs from a world renowned photographer.
Dream Homes Country: 100 Inspirational Interiors
Click on the button for more DIY Skills information and reviews.
Expectant – but disappointed,
I would give this book 5 stars on its own. But if you own their first book, “Dream Homes”, then you already have much of this book. I was so looking forward to browsing through this book when I suddenly realized a lot of it was familiar. I then pulled the first book from the shelf and saw so many of the same pictures over and over again. Big disappointment. I felt deceived – so I am returning it.
If you don’t already own “Dream Homes”, then I highly recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed.
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|All Duplicate Material from Prior “Dream Homes” Books,
This book is beautiful, but contains all material that already appeared in the first two “Dream Homes” books. Very disappointing the publisher concealed this info so readers would purchase the book. As the first reviewer states, if you don’t have the first two books, this one is great.
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