More states want solar power to be option on new homes

Just putting on a a cover-roof - that vents air from the eves out the cap in summer, but shutters to re-cycle warm air in winter is good.

Again, "Mostly passive (say hot water systems) are also cheap and also very viable."

From private experience, I helped to install such a system on a cousin's farm (an active, closed loop system fed by a solar driven pump). Materials ran about 700, labor (typical of my family) was free. Though, perhaps my family is more capable (handy) than others.

I'm suggesting that the utilities company install it; and install a standardized insulation - any of which could be substituted with privately installed or customized and privately financed either wholly or partially. If you want to customize, you customize.
The utilities and government work up a plan for the whole of the nation - and our homes are then part of a power-supply grid. No batteries.

The grid hooks up to your home, you receive power but pay less and the world is cleaner.

Little kids dance and sing in the bright sun. Everybody's happy.

Being in contracting and seeing rich folks put in these types of systems I can say this.... they spent tens of thousands of $$$ that most Americans do not have to spend on this technology and none of them expect to break even for a good 10-15 years minimum. They all see it as a future investment.

Save money and get an electric hot water heater- that is cheap, easy to install and pays itself off the first year in savings in most cases.

Yeah solar power sounds great, but the cost vs. immediate benefit is NOT there. Then if you start to look at wind systems you find the problem of power grid integration.

Most Americans who can not afford the damn mortgage will not be able to afford solar power. Period. Sounds good in theory, but is not the same on paper or checkbooks.

I think mandatory would be a bad idea. Besides, I'm very much opposed to the government having more say i how I build my house.
In the house I am building now we put in solar domestic hot water: $6,800. Geothermal HVAC, $21,000. Closed cell spray foam insulation: $13,900. This is probably 6k more for the water, 8k more for the HVAC and 3x the conventional amount for insulation. I have heard amounts such as 32k to replace grid electricity for a 200 amp house, including the batteries. The good part is the tax credits available for them but fronting this amount of money over standard construction could push many out of the market altogether. The point is, the government has no right mandating this stuff.
Unless one buys a spec house, one already built to standard specifications, just about anything is available as an option on a new house. Certainly geothermal and solar power would be available. I would like to see Combined Heat & Power Units used more often. These are basically a Sterling engine. Expensive but would solve the off grid power requirements for a house at about the same cost as solar electric. Worth looking into.

Of course, solar installers might object at first, but solar could be mandated; installed enmasse and maintained by the power companies.

All the roofs across the whole country could be the solar power grid.

Installed and maintained for you.

Passive solar is cheap, affordable, often times has a very short payback. Hot water solar systems are viable up till the fairly northern part of the country (I believe even northern Indiana qualifies).

Everyone focuses upon electricity. However, the most economical usages of solar is for heat and light, most of this can be accomplished through passive technologies. They (passive technologies) often add little if any cost to construction.

Mostly passive (say hot water systems) are also cheap and also very viable.

The federal govt needs to up the grant to 50% like china.

Perhaps the option, but not the opportunity.

I belive for solar power as a viable option this is a great step in the right direction. As a lot of new home buyers get these on their houses the demand for the technology will increase. And the technology will increase in effectiveness. Sure it may be expensive, but when people find they can just stick it in the mortage I think they will be more open to the idea of having solar power on their home, unlike if they had to cut a check or take out a seperate loan to pay for solar power after the house is built. Plus if you are installing on a new construction house it will be a lot cheaper to install then if you have to add it on to the house later. The electicians can install the wiring quickly that will certainly cut down the installion cost.

I just don't get it...

The option has always been there to utilize solar power. The problem is, not many people are willing to spend the extra money to install such a system. And at a time when the construction and housing industries are abnormally slow, why make more regulations?

Liek cerealforeal said...it's just a step in that direction. The direction of driving up the cost of living and controlling even more the way Americans live.

Isn't colorodo one of the worst places for solar power. Weather aside, the tall mountain surrounding you make it get dark like 2 hours earlier right?

Too expensive for the mainland 48. To give you an idea of the figures involved, a solar panel over its lifetime on average costs 38¢kWh where as over the grid in the most expensive state of the 48, NY is 17.12¢kWh, meaning that solar energy would cost you more than twice the amount over the grid energy in the state of NY, making it hard to justify the cost of solar energy.

This would be great for Hawaii who's paying close to 30kWh for over the grid technology since they have to import in all of their oil which they use to power the grid, hence why they're investing in alternative energy solutions since the high costs of these methods are comprable to what they are paying now anyway.

Solar energy is great, but as I posted on another story, the government certainly isn't in the position to require that we switch to these alternatives now while the cost for them is too high and impractical for the end consumer. Invest in technology companies and try to make Solar cost 10kWh and then your talking about a major change, lower it to below 6kWh and your speaking about a revolution.

Sounds very cool. Every little bit helps.

Awesome.

Option!? Make it mandatory!