The Skinny on DIY Solar
Friday, November 6th, 2009The U.S. is a proverbial mecca for do-it-yourselfers. From our ancestral days of pioneers and homesteaders, we’ve trusted nothing more than our own hands to get a job done right. America is a land of invention and innovation (even if the manufacturing has moved elsewhere). So, when the solar power took off in lieu of global warming and high energy costs, many Americans stared right into the eyes of a technology widely regarded as scientific and esoteric and said, “Hey, I can do that!”

Photo Credit: GreenTerraFirma
Thus was born DIY solar. Indeed, in light of the high up-front costs of solar power panels, DIY solar is a very sexy prospect. A little sweat equity can cut installation costs in half. And in the internet age, there is no shortage of on-demand how-to tips and instructions. HOWEVER, going solar by yourself does have its drawbacks, given the nature of the work and the current slate of incentives out there promoting professional installations.
Here’s the skinny on DIY solar:
DIY: The Upsides
The upside of DIY solar is the same as DIY anything – no paying for labor. It may take more time and it may take more effort, but in the end, you’ve got a solar system for considerably less than the do-little neighbor next door. Right? Maybe. (more…)

Home solar payback is the million dollar question for solar energy systems. Unfortunately for solar installers, it’s not always an easy question to answer, as several variables affect the solution. It can be said that in general, it takes 10-20 years for an average-sized system to pay for itself in energy savings. In some cases, such as systems embedded into a mortgage, a system can be profitable from the get-go. In others, it can take more than 20 years.
The house is made with super-efficient glass walls and doors with an open-floor design to allow maximum light penetration.