Buying a Green Home
Solar Photovoltaic Power for Your Home
Basic Types of PV Systems
For many people, the ultimate "green" is having the sun provide all of your daily power requirements. In NC, there are two basic kinds of solar photovoltaic systems.
For those who want to live "off the grid", it may be a surprise that both types of systems are actually grid-tied, and that a grid-tied system is the most financially feasible!
Grid Tied without Batteries
This is the most common type of PV system.
The photovoltaic system will shut down when the utility grid is down, so that linemen don't get shocked by the return of electricity through the power lines.
The system consists entirely of solar panels and an inverter.
Grid Tied With Battery Back Up
A grid tied photovoltaic system with battery back up is less common.
The home will be supplied with electricity when the utility grid is down.
Most batteries have a capacity of 20 kWh - a refrigerator requires 1.5 kWh per day. The battery back up most likely will not support heating and cooling, but will maintain most essentials.
The solar panels will continue to recharge the batteries as long as there is available sunlight.
The system consists of solar panels, an inverter, and a battery box, usually placed in the garage. The battery box is roughly 2.5'x2.5'x4', and must have some kind of ventilation (ie it cannot be boxed in or placed in a closed closet).
Off Grid Photovoltaic Power
Most commonly, something off the grid supports a unique function, such as a stand-alone solar panel well pump or swimming pool heater.
These off-grid systems are more commonly found as ground-supported systems, while roof space is generally used for solar hot water heaters and more traditional photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Building a Home with Solar Photovoltaic Power
A PV system can be added as a retrofit on an existing home, but it's probably easiest to determine your desire for clean solar power before the home is in framing stage, or even before.
Ideally, the home will have at least some south-facing exposure, on the front or back of the home. Knowing this, you can choose a lot and foundation location that will give you the most potential sunlight exposure.
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Penny, Great post as I wish that I had the dough to do this as I am very much into the green thing. That is the main reason that I went with a hybrid HVAC system when I replaced my dying unit...
Solar energy seems to be the greatest hope for future. We just need to figure out how to make now the future. Mass production of lower cost solar panels combined with government and local utility rebates and credits can make this happen.
Hi Penny, thanks for the post. This is the wave of the future. Homes producing an excess of electricity through solar, that are tied into the utility grid, will be paid for the energy they return to the grid by the utility company.
Michael - Average ROI on solar photovoltaic power in NC is about 7 years, so it still takes some time to recover the cost. But there are new advances every day...
John - we've got the rebates and credits covered, now we just need to get the costs of the systems reduced a little!
Gabe - We have exactly that situation here - but it does take a VERY extensive solar array to produce so much electricity that the homes needs are supplied AND there is excess!
Great info, Thanks for posting. Are builders in NC able to take advantage of all the tax credits or are they just for consumers?
Rick - I haven't seen any solar tax credits specifically for builders, though I know many people are working hard on "green" credits. Right now, homebuyers can take advantage of the credits by asking for solar options in their new home.