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By Karen McConnaughey 

Well, we got our first bill after installing solar panels on our house in Lake Chapala, Mexico. We went from a bill of $3770 pesos for a two-month cycle to $424 pesos for a two-month cycle.

Yes, it will take us approximately six years to pay off the cost of the solar panels, BUT it means on a monthly basis that we have around $268 USD more in our pockets. I’m okay with that! And, of course, we’ve added value to our house. It doesn't hurt that homes with a solar panel system see their value increase, as a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study showed. The study said a relatively new solar power system can raise the price of a home by $17,000 on average

As we said in our initial article on installing solar energy, our system cost us $10, 705 for 10 solar panels. Obviously, if you're considering installing solar power in your home, then first things first: keep in mind that the cost of solar panel takes a significant up-front investment.

Of course, we all know the reality of electricity prices is that they are never going to get any cheaper, so it’s quite possible we may see a return on investment sooner.

The Associated Press  October 23, 2011: Last month two of the nation's biggest utilities, Exelon and NextEra Energy, each acquired a large California solar power farm in the early stages of development. Another utility, NRG Energy, has announced a plan with Bank of America and the real estate firm Prologis to spend $1.4 billion to install solar systems on 750 commercial rooftops.

I’m also happy that we reduced our carbon footprint! The sun splashes more clean energy on the planet in one hour than humans use in a year, and daytime is when power is needed most. And solar panels can be installed near where people use power, reducing or eliminating the costs of moving power through a grid.

On average, a solar panel can last up to 30 years or more. With just 10 panels set up, we are powering our home with our own renewable energy. Not only that, but solar panels are designed to withstand harsh climates. One common misconception is that you need the sun shining to convert to electricity. Solar panels can still convert from solar energy to electrical or thermal power even on a cloudy day (although not at the same capacity).

As one web site stated also: You have Unlimited Power! (I loved the sound of that!) While everyone else is crying and whining about high energy costs, you will have an unlimited supply of solar power. Unless the sun blows up and destroys our entire solar system - you won't really need to worry about never having power. And, if that happens, we won’t be worrying about anything, will we?

With solar power being pushed forward by government initiatives, prices are also going down. As this form of renewable energy becomes more affordable, The Associated Press said it may finally be going "mainstream." Some installers are teaming up with big hardware chains Home Depot and Lowe's in an effort to expose solar to customers who might not otherwise consider it.

Andrew Beebe, who heads up global sales for Suntech Power, a solar power manufacturer, told the AP the solar industry is at the "beginning of a turning point." Solar power installations have doubled in the last year and are expected to double again next year. The news source said it is still about three times more expensive than other forms of power, but prices have fallen by two-thirds since 2008 and it is becoming easier for people to get solar power in their homes. (solar.coolerplanet.com, Monday, October 24, 2011)

More solar energy is being planned than any other power source, including nuclear, coal, natural gas and wind.

Uses of Solar

Home heating, hot water systems, swimming pool heating, and indoor and outdoor lighting can all be powered by solar. Solar works most efficiently in geographic regions with a lot of solar energy, like Mexico! If you're lucky enough to generate more electricity than you personally use, in some areas you can even sell energy back to the electric grid.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

The three Rs are: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. While recycling is the most popular way that we can save money via alternative energy, it’s only one of the three R’s. Maximize your recycling by recycling just about everything you can, including:
·    aluminum
·    cardboard
·    glass
·    paper
·    plastic
·    steel

It’s important to note that the three R’s not only reduce the amount of energy needed to produce certain materials, but also the amount of pollution that is produced by making those products. There’s aluminum, for example. When it’s recycled, it provides 95% energy savings, and produces 95% less pollution than when producing new aluminum products. Other materials such as paper also produce significant savings and less pollution when recycled. Besides recycling, reducing your energy consumption and reusing things also helps to save money through the use of alternative energy sources.

With gas prices continuously on the rise coupled with depleting fossil fuel sources, it behooves each and every one of us to look for new ways to get our energy. Solar energy power provides one of those options and with all the solar energy advantages that there are it is most certainly an energy source that merits genuine consideration. So what are you waiting for? In the long run I believe you will thank yourself for it. We certainly are!