Government subsidies in Visual Studio .NET

Paint QR Code in Visual Studio .NET Government subsidies

Government has a vested interest in promoting solar power because of its overwhelmingly positive environmental impact, as well as the desirable political impact of energy independence The best way to promote solar power is to get more people to invest in it, and the best way to do that is to subsidize it Subsidies, rebates, and tax breaks are widespread and becoming more prevalent with each passing day In some parts of the country, the total discount on a system can be over 50 percent

All investments require you to predict the future If you think energy costs are going to rise quite a bit, solar energy is a very wise option Your power bills won t increase no matter how much energy costs rise This is a very powerful form of portfolio management called hedging, where you not only get a good return on your investment but also ensure that regardless of what happens in the future, your investment will still pay off In fact, the more energy costs rise, the better your original investment in solar will turn out to be

When energy costs rise, those with solar power will still be able to use the same amount of energy Those without will be scrambling to conserve or to buy solar equipment (which makes yours more valuable) You ensure not only financial security but also lifestyle security when you invest in solar energy

Your property value can increase by more than the cost of your original solar PV investment Not only will you save on monthly power bills, but you ll see an almost immediate appreciation in your home, in many cases, equal to or greater than the cost of your equipment

An intertie solar PV system, shown in Figure 16-4, is actually very simple, despite its high cost The collectors collect sunlight and convert it into a raw electrical signal Wires transmit this signal down to the inverter, which converts (why it isn t called a converter is beyond me) the power to 110VAC that is useable in your home The meter is used so the power company can ding you, of course And switches are there for safety purposes The following sections explain the important parts of a solar PV system

Inverter Switch Figure 16-4: A solar House intertie PV system AC Voltage Main Fusebox Utility Meter

Ground-mounted systems are more expensive than roof-mounted systems because they require concrete posts and special frames On the other hand, you can orient the panels any way you want, so the extra cost may be offset by increased production Install a smaller system than you think you need, and allow for the possibility of future expansion by buying an inverter big enough to accommodate the panels you may add in the future

PV panels, which comprise about 60 percent of the system s cost, are the single biggest expense They take up the most space as well For most users, finding the space for the panels is the hardest part of the investment because it s critical that they get a lot of sunshine This depends quite a bit on the orientation of your roof Different types of panels are finding their way onto the market The technologies aren t important to you, but the configurations may be Some panels are flexible, and some can be mounted directly over tiled roofs Some panels are being made into roofing shingles Most of the new technologies are going to need some maturation to compete with the tried-and-true flat panels It s best to avoid new technologies until they ve proven themselves Be sure to check the warranty and the manufacturer s reputation and longevity Most PV panel warranties are for 20 years, but beware: Panels degrade over time System warranties specify a percentage of original power output over time, say, 80 percent after 20 years Inevitably, your system will put out less and less energy