Many people are fed up of the escalating cost of electricity, but they do not know what they can do about it. They have switched lights off; they have not turned lights on; they have unplugged devices on stand-by and they have turned the central heating down and the air con up and it has only saved them pennies. Yet still the electricity bills go up on a regular basis. It is very exasperating.
We have all heard of alternative and sustainable sources of energy, but the question is: how can average people instigate these technologies into their own homes? One phone call to a professional solar power installation company will persuade anyone that solar power is only for the well-off.
Similarly with wind power generation. A single device, which may or may not satisfy the electrical requirements of one average family will cost in the region of $45,000 and it is thought that, if it meets aspirations, that it will pay for itself after ten years time. $45,000 is too much money for most individuals, but having to wait ten years to realize that investment is too long for most people too.
So, at first glance, it looks like the average person is at the mercy of the oil companies and the electricity generators. However, it does not have to be like that. There are other ways of approaching the problem and extricating yourself from the control of energy providers. The first method would be to buy the solar power units and install them yourself. That would save you a lot, perhaps up to 50%. But you could go a step further and make the solar panels yourself too, which would save you a great deal more money.
The fact is that the more of your own labour that you can put into the scheme, the more you will save, because the labour constituent in any task usually amounts to about 50% of the costs. We all know how costly it is to call a plumber in to fix a leaking pipe or a roofer to replace a slate. $100 for a slate? $100 for a dribble of solder? No, it is the tradesman’s time and the same is true of solar panel fitters.
The way out is to learn how to make the solar power units and install them yourself. It is not hard. Any teenager can learn how to do it and so can you. Believe me, learning how to assemble and install solar panels is not hard. Just try it and see for yourself. You will amaze yourself and your friends. You may even transform it into a business!
The thing to do is get a dependable kit or a plan from a trusted source. This could be a neighborhood hardware or hobbyist store or from a specialist website on the Internet. Once you have your design, you can buy the components. They are commonplace and on hand in most DIY shops. Then it will take you about a day to make a solar panel that will supply about 100 watts.
This may not seem like much, but it will run many types of small machines or two average light bulbs. The trick is to keep adding to your bank of solar panels until you are entirely free of the electricity net or even selling electricity back into it.
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with a favourite subject, renewable energy advantages. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.
