Residential Solar Panels

Photovoltaic Arrays Cut Energy Bills and Yeild Tax Deductions

Jul 2, 2008
Kelly Smith

Solar Panel - Dynamix

With energy bills increasing, many homeowners are installing residential solar panels. This is a green, renewable energy source and each solar array produces 10 Watts.

This electricity production is based on a one square foot array of silicon solar cells. Accordingly, each cell has a production of .5 Volts. The amount of energy produced is increased by adding additional arrays.

Other Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption

Using green energy production is just one way to save on utility bills. Other ways include installing solar window film, using tankless water heaters, and upgrading the central air conditioner.

How Much does Residential Energy Production Cost?

This is the first question most homeowners ask: what's the bottom line? One way to judge this is the dollars-per-Watt ratio. So, assuming a solar array costs $1000 and generates 200 Watts, the dollar-per-Watt ratio is $5.00.

Another useful tool to use when shopping for this type of green electricity is the conversion efficiency ratio. This figures the amount of solar radiation a particular solar grid, or array, can convert to stored electrical current. The higher the number, the better. Most manufacturers claim from 12% to 18%.

Top PV (Photovoltaic energy) Solar Panel Manufacturers

There are many players getting into the home-generated utility game. Here are six of the most reputable solar panel manufacturers.

Kyosera – Thought they just made copiers? Nope, they also help the homeowner to harvest power from the sun. The Kyosera KC200GT produces 200 Watts and has a conversion ratio of 16%. They also market a DC to AC converter; handy, since home appliances run on AC current.
Evergreen Spruce – A great name for a renewable energy technology company, isn't it? Evergreen uses their own proprietary String Ribbon technology. This has to do with the cost-saving method of making silicone wafers. Their 195 Watt model has a cost about $939.
General Electric Company (GE) – These guys know a thing or two about solar power. They got into the game by buying out AstroPower in 2004. The GEPV 200 offering is just over $1000 but is very durable, withstanding wind up to 125 miles per hour. Anyone out there in hurricane country?
BP Solar Panels – British Petroleum sells its BP Solar SX-170B for $759. It pumps out a healthy 170 Watts of power. They also market BP Solar Energy Tile as a roofing system. It's currently available in California.
Suntech – Suntech has been awarded the contract to power the Bird's Nest Stadium for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games. This is a major publicity boost for them. The STP180-24/Ab1 delivers 190 Watts at a price of $849.
Sharp – Most homeowners are familiar with Sharp Televisions but don't know that they've been harnessing the sun's energy since the 1950's. They are the world's largest producers of solar cell technology. This includes production for watches and calculators. At $870, the Sharp NE165U1 generates 155 Watts.