If you answer yes to any of the following three questions, you should consider buying one of the many DIY solar panel kits on the market.
- Do you want to reduce your utility bills?
- Do you want to be self-sufficient and avoid fuel hikes, fuel shortages, or being at the mercy of foreign energy suppliers?
- Do you want to reduce carbon emissions?
If you answered yes to any of these, then you should consider getting a DIY solar panel kit. The advantages of solar power and photovoltaics is well documented. The sun offers free, perpetual energy for most, if not all, the year. Being able to harness some of this energy is the ideal answer to all of the questions we asked.
It isn’t all about energy either, you can also buy DIY solar water heating kits too. They use the sun’s rays to heat water for your home. They don’t provide electricity like photovoltaics, but they can save a lot of money in their own right.
It’s estimated that 45 percent of a home’s energy bills are used in heating or cooling the space, and the water. Removing that alone will equate to the same percentage saving on your bills. Add photovoltaics to the mix and you could save even more.
These kits aren’t cheap, but they are an investment. It won’t take long to make your money back if you buy a DIY solar panel kit. As long as you have a suitable roof or space to install the kit, and get a decent amount of sunlight during the day, you should be fine.
The advantage of a DIY kit is control. You control how, when and where the kit is installed. It’s also cheaper to do it yourself, as long as you know one end of a hammer from the other, and can read a wiring diagram, you’re good to go.
The main considerations if you’re planning to buy a DIY solar panel kit are the size of the system, and the space needed for it. To be truly effective, you will need to have a south-facing roof, and live somewhere where there is plenty of light. Cloudier areas can still benefit, but the system won’t be as efficient, or provide the kind of returns you’re probably looking for.
If you’re planning a PV (photovoltaic) system to generate electricity then it’s possible to provide most, if not all, the power the average family needs on a sunny day. For a solar thermal system which provides heating and hot water, the average system will provide 50-60 percent of what you need. This needs to be factored into any calculation before you buy.
Fitting DIY solar panel kits isn’t something for the faint of heart, but it is accessible if you know what you’re doing. It’s possible to save up for half the cost of having a system if you fit it yourself. A source of immense satisfaction in a job well done can also equate to a saving of thousands of dollars in installation costs.
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