Good For The Planet, Affordable Too

Maybe you've been thinking about reducing your carbon footprint by making your home energy efficient. What' been holding you back? Perhaps it's the investment. Solar energy reduces your need for energy from coal, oil, and natural gas. Therefore, the government and your utility are interested in helping you make this investment.

You'll require rooftop solar panels to convert the sun's energy into electricity. If you plan for your setup to provide a significant portion of your family's electrical consumption you'll need about a $30,000 setup. This price tag may seem off-putting at first, but different agencies provide financial incentives for making the switch.

Cash rebates are offered by utilities at around $4 a watt. This means a 4,000 watt system can save you up to $16,000. The amount after rebate is eligible for an additional 30 percent credit from the federal government. This means that your $30,000 system with a max rebate of $16,000 would give you a further $4,200 savings, bringing your total cost to $9,800, this includes installation. This is not to mention your energy bill saving (up to $100).

Perhaps this is still out of reach for your budget. An easier move may be to switch to a solar water heater. Although significantly more expensive than gas or electric, you can take advantage of tax credits and rebates here as well. After rebates and credits your cost will be just a few hundred dollars more than the $ 1,000 you'd pay for a traditional model. Your savings result from heat supplied by the sun when you use hot water. Your electric bill will be significantly reduced.

Although these investment won't eliminate your electric bill altogether, you can enjoy the energy cost savings and the peace of mind that you've done your part for the preservation of our planet's resources.

Don't worry; you'll never be without sufficient electricity. When the sun isn't enough you'll still be drawing power from the electric company.

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