The next step to look up is the amount of direct sunshine your location receives, otherwise known as " insolation." Insolation is controlled by the angle of the sun, the weather, atmosphere, elevation and location on the globe. A 500-watt chest freezer running for ten hours will use five kWh of energy. To compute kWh of a device or appliance, multiply the watts times the hours it runs during the day. The next step is to find out what electrical appliances and devices you are using, how many watts they consume and how long you use them. For example, let's say you use an average of 1000 kWh per month. That being said, the way to determine your usage is to review your utility bills. The important thing to remember is that watts and watt-hours are NOT interchangeable in making your calculations. So, in one hour the 50-watt light bulb will consume 50-watt hours, or. Watt-hours, meanwhile, are the units of measurement of energy used over time. If you have a 30-watt battery, the 50-watt bulb won't light all the way and will quickly run down the battery. A 50-watt light bulb burns 50 watts of power each time it's turned on.
The power (watts) required to run things in your house is not measured the same way as your utility bills show (watt-hours). First, you need to understand the difference between watts and watt-hours.
Power output capacities have also improved. Today, the average cost is about $1.03 per watt, a 90 percent cost reduction in just 25 years. In the case of solar energy, the cost of an average solar panel in 1980 was $21 per watt (eg: a 15-watt panel would cost $315.00).
Solar Energy Can Be Affordableīecause both residential and commercial demand for solar and wind energy is increasing, the technology is improving, there are more manufacturers and the price is dropping. Read on to learn about what factors to you should keep in mind when considering a solar and wind home power plant, and how you can bring the costs down to a more attainable level. However, don't give up hope if you are truly committed to powering your house with solar and wind. And while you might be able to save around $2 per watt by doing the work yourself, many energy efficiency programs have certification requirements. Deep cycle back-up batteries for both wind and solar can add on 20 to 30 percent more. That means a 2 kilowatt (kW) grid-tied system with no battery back-up can run to $16,000 and a similar 5 kW system could cost upwards of $40,000. Wind turbine systems can run as high as $65,000 installed, while the average cost nationally for a professionally installed solar panel system is about $8 to $9 per watt. Homeowners considering a solar energy or residential wind turbine system may quickly face sticker shock when they find out how much these installations will cost. Residential Solar and Wind Systems: What are the Energy Costs?