Getting a Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy System on Your Home
Introduction
Cost of a PV System Getting a PV system on Your Home: A Strategy
4. Design Considerations
In order to place PV on your home, there is no need to meet 100% of your energy usage. Of the reasons people give for installing a PV system (listed above), only one of eight is directly related to the size of the PV system.
If your financial resources are limited, think about starting small—perhaps with a system that meets 10% to 20% of your annual energy use. As the cost of PV systems declines, your financial resources improve and state and federal incentives are made available, you can gradually increase the size of your system.
PV systems generating 100 Watts of power can be purchased for as little as $1300. The system can be designed so that you can easily add to it—another reason to use a designer/installer who really knows PV.
One option that urban PV system owners should seriously consider is PV roofing. Some U.S. made products are the shingles, standing seam, and roofing slates made by Uni-Solar and Atlantis Energy. These systems will also add to the aesthetic appeal of a home. For more information on PV roofing and other building integrated PV products, visit learn_options.shtml on this website.
For further information contact:
Niels Wolter
Director WisconSUN
7507 Hubbard Ave., Suite 200
Middleton WI 53562
Phone (608) 831-1127 ext.308
Wolter@msbnrg.com
Photo 5: Tim Ellison and Uni-Solar/Energy Conversion Devices
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