For many, especially those who live in sunny Honolulu, the concept of “going solar” is incredibly inviting.  However, we need to thoroughly understand the technology before we entirely cast off the powerlines.  A few interesting things about “going solar” are below:

• You can calculate how much solar energy capability your home will need by reviewing your utility bill.
• You may supplement your power needs or divorce yourself from the power grid completely.
• Photovoltaic is the method most solar cells use to convert sunlight to energy.  Your power requirements will determine what size photovoltaic modules you need.
• Night time darkness and cloudy days reduce the amount of energy your system generates.  You may install a battery storage system to supplement these known production down times.
• If your system generates more power than you need, some utility companies will buy the excess.
• Your system must be inspected by the local utility company to ensure it is safe for utility linemen.  The utility want to be sure that during a power outage, your system was installed properly and that it will have no power running through the lines.
• A solar panel system may cost more than $30,000.  This is a large up-front expense, but systems are coming down in price.  Don’t forget that solar systems will save expensive electricity over your lifetime and be sure to investigate state and federal tax credits that may help defray your initial installation costs.

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