Does Solar Power help Sell Homes?
More and more homeowners are going to alternate energy sources, and solar seems to be a popular choice. It is accessible financially and unless the home is completely tree shrouded sunlight is an abundant and free commodity. The growing Prepper Community seems to embrace this concept.
The questions are:
- Is the installed solar power system cost effective?
- Can I install a solar power system in my city?
- How does the solar power system work?
- What will a solar power system do for me?
Anna Banana will probably comment on how popular solar is in the Phoenix, AZ area:) and in the south solar seems to be a no-brainer, although I have been told it can be ineffective in extreme temperatures. But even in St. Cloud, Minnesota the modern solar cells are effective (cost effective that is). Most city codes allow for the installation of solar panels and most utility companies have grant programs. In fact, in some states it is illegal for a city or homeowners association to ban solar power systems.
How does it all work?
Well there are two basic types of solar.
- Passive Solar: where the design of the home is such that it takes maximum advantage of the sun to heat the home directly, usually using a large bank of windows oriented toward the sun.
- Active Solar which commonly uses solar water heaters, and/or photo-voltaic cells (PV) connected in series and encased in a weatherproof box called a solar panel. Multiple solar panels in series make up an array. The array is often connected to a battery bank and then to an inverter, which converts DC to AC for use in the home.
So What?! What does this do for the homeowner? Well it directly reduces the homeowners utility cost, and if connected to the "grid" the excess power can be sold back to the power utility:) Here is the bigger question. Does a solar system help sell the home? For Buyers, it may be a matter of how well the Realtor explains the system, and it's benefits. How big is solar in your market? And, what is your Solar IQ?
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