by Rhonda Carpenter

A recently installed solar power system not only powers the author's home, but makes money whenever it sends electricity back to the power company. The solar system provides free electricity and also reduces the pollution caused by coal-burning power plants. It is a win-win situation. Colorado recently offered a 50% rebate system from the local utility company.

Reasons to go solar:

• The system has a 7-10 year payback on capital costs.  With current costs of electricity the system will payback in 10 years.  If the cost of power goes up (as it probably will), the payback time shortens to 7 years.  Plus at the end of the year the power company pays you back for the electricity that you generated and did not use.
• It is clean energy. For a typical system using electricity generated by the sun saves 8,300 pounds of carbon dioxide/year, 17 lbs sulfur dioxide/year, and 14 lbs of nitrous oxides/year generated by power plants.
• The system is simple – solar panels, and inverter (inverts direct current DC from the solar panels to alternating current AC for your house). The inverter then is connected to the utility company’s meter.
• The system is virtually maintenance-free. There are no moving parts. The panels have a 25 year warranty. The inverter has a 7 year warranty (but will probably last 20-25 years).
• Solar panels raise the value of your home by at least the amount that you pay for the system. With the 50% rebate in Colorado, and $2,000 federal rebate, a standard system runs around $10,000.
• It is fun to watch the utility meter run backwards (meaning you are making electricity and money from your system!)