The 16th Annual National Solar Tour, a popular solar event organized by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), has attracted thousands of Americans. Business and home owners from 43 states have taken part in open house tours to explore how Americans are saving energy, tax dollars, slashing utility bills, creating jobs and improving property values.
This Maryland couple’s 16.92 kW residential solar solution has cut their energy bills from $14.05 to 17 cents a day, reports installer Astrum Solar.
The event highlighted open house tours of energy-saving businesses and homes that are delivering their owners sufficient environmental and economic rewards. Today’s solar solutions bring substantial benefits to the economy and environment with varied new products, higher plane efficiencies, an identification of domestic market incentives and low lower price tags.
The open house tours were made possible by Delta Energy Systems, Trina Solar and Enphase Energy. They have given a view of various solar solutions, from traditional roof-mount, building-integrated PV and vertical solar to gazebos and solar water heating, that are available in the marketplace.
Carolyn Hegman from Mississippi Solar said that the tour was about educating people regarding solar energy. She also said that solar can change the survival of a poultry farmer, who has enormous electric bills, especially during the hot summer in Mississippi.
Most solar solutions not only qualify for a federal tax credit of up to 30%, but many states also provide cash incentives to minimize the costs of solar for businesses and homes. Further aiding to the solar ROI, a recent study conducted by the University of California San Diego revealed that roof-top solar panels not only provide clean power, but they protect household rooftops by keeping them 5◦ warmer in the winter and cooler in summer. This helps reduce year-round heating and cooling costs.
Steve Johnston, San Diego Renewable Energy Society Chair and tour host, said that these open house tours are en effective way to guide people interested in solar to understand how solar works by speaking with qualified, licensed professionals who can teach them on installation methods and other incentivestoday's solar water heating, energy efficiency solutions and solar PV provide.