Solar Home Solutions

Residential solar power solutions for homeowners are increasing in popularity, so much so that Habitat for Humanity is even implementing some solar solutions in homes they are building for community service projects.

Types

• Current solar-powered home products include panels that install on rooftops, wind turbines, and solar-powered water heaters designed to harness energy from the sun and power most electrical items in a home. This helps to reduce dependence on traditional power sources. According to a spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity, solar-powered solutions can help homeowners save $25 or more per month in electrical expenses.

Incentives

• Wells Fargo, the IRS and even some state programs offer grants and incentives for installing solar-powered solutions in homes. Solar incentives and grants from private entities, government programs or state funding change annually and will vary depending on the geographic location.

Considerations

• Some counties, like Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania, have lifted rate caps on what electric companies are able to charge their consumers. According to an October 2010 article in "The Republic Herald," this rate increase is the largest incentive for homeowners to make the switch from traditional power sources to solar-powered solutions. They speculate that other homeowners may do the same if their counties or other states lift restrictions on what power companies are allowed to charge.