Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels Coming To a Store Near You
American big-store chain, Lowe's (NYSE:LOW), has begun stocking its California locations with do-it-yourself solar panels, with plans to roll the product out across the country in 2010.
The Good:
This bodes well for anyone with a power-drill, a ladder, non-arthritic knees, and numerous episodes of any number of handy-man television shows under their belt. You can walk into a store, toss a panel into your cart, and--after a visit to the checkout--head home to your roof top. The world is yours.
The Not-So...
Alright, it's not actually that easy. Even when the panels are available on store shelves, you have to fill out all the proper government documentation before you can install them. Otherwise bad things could happen--like your utility shutting off your power indefinitely.
Professional installers typically handle all the necessary paperwork, like clearance from the local utility and applications for a bevy of government subsidies that can make the system a whole lot cheaper. If you go the do-it-yourself route, then the onus is on you to do this leg-work as well.
The correct paperwork will be available upon purchase.
How The Panels Work:
Akeena Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS)--the company responsible for the panel kits--are ensuring a hassle-free installation once you get past the paperwork. Designed with the novice in mind, the 40 lb. panels are placed on the roof, holes drilled, and bolted to the rafters. A protective barrier is also required to prevent leaks.
The average installation would require roughly 20 panels, with each panel providing roughly 175 watts of energy--enough to power a flat-screen television.
During the day, the solar panels will act like a large battery, producing energy from the sun and pumping it through the circuit breaker to appliances inside. On cloudy days or at night, of course, homeowners will again draw 100 percent of their power from the grid.
A fiction writer who has won awards for his work, Harry has recently shifted focus to society’s role in bettering the world. For him, this means a keen interest in sustainable living, which also includes renewable energy. His regular contributions to Energyboom often deal with the highly-debated biofuel industry, a topic he finds to be a continuous source of learning and controversy.
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Come On Russ!
Blog post was somewhat tongue-in-cheek (read: I was being sarcastic about the implied ease of installation)--which I gather you missed in your zeal to be the ever-vigilant critic.
The potential for leaks was mentioned.
You may have a point with 1)...I don't know the specific regulations.
Your 2) and 5) are redundant, but I assume you're just trying to REALLY prove your point. 4) is a non sequitur.
One would assume that with any home renovation, the appropriate measures (be they permits, wiring, or replacing the roof because a "buddy" says it's too old) would be procured from professionals.
The post is not about the extraneous costs involved in installing a solar panel, but the ease in which said panels will be available in the coming year.
Come On Harry!
There are a few minor considerations to be taken care of:
1) Rebates are allowed for DIY projects?
2) Electrical installation & connections need to be made by qualified electrician!
3) Roof - if installed on a roof there is the minor problem of leaks
4) Roof - if the roof is older maybe a new roof should be installed at the same time
5) Electrical connection scheme needs to be designed by someone who knows what they are doing - not just the buddy who says he does.
6) Even if you buy the kit it will be a big investment - save a few bucks and make a mess of the entire thing? Lowes doesn't give 'idiot' refunds
Mess it up, have an accident like a fire and see what the homeowners insurance says! İn most cases the insurance company will be right.