I can’t afford enough solar panels to generate electricity for my entire house but I want to reduce my electricity bill. What’s a good way to start?
Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are connected together to form PV modules that may be up to several feet long and a few feet wide. Modules, in turn, can be combined and connected to form PV arrays of different sizes and power output, to meet almost any electric power need. Thus, a consumer can buy a small array of solar equipment, with the aim to add more panels later as they can afford them. The alternative is to target one area of a household’s energy consumption. Presently, 30% of a household’s total energy consumption is used to heat water. The investment in a solar hot-water system is therefore easily offset by the savings in electricity or propane gas over a few years. This article by Laura Semos was submitted to and printed by the Bermuda Sun on August 22, 2008.
