Will my homeowners association allow me to install solar panels on my roof?
Yes, they have to allow it. It is a state law in Florida (163.04). But you should inform the
board of what you are doing. Florida law forbids ordinances, deed restrictions, covenants,
or similar binding agreements from prohibiting solar equipment use. Under this law, a
homeowner may not be denied by "any entity granted the power or right in any deed
restriction, covenant or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct
alteration of property..." permission to install a solar collector, clothesline, or other energy
device using renewable resources.
board of what you are doing. Florida law forbids ordinances, deed restrictions, covenants,
or similar binding agreements from prohibiting solar equipment use. Under this law, a
homeowner may not be denied by "any entity granted the power or right in any deed
restriction, covenant or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct
alteration of property..." permission to install a solar collector, clothesline, or other energy
device using renewable resources.
Solar Energy:
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Alternative Energy
How to calculate how many
solar panels you need.
solar panels you need.
To calculate how many square
inches of solar panel you need
for a house, you need to know:
• How much power the
house consumes on average.
• Where the house is
located (so you can calculate
mean solar days, average
rainfall, etc.). This question is
impossible to answer unless
you have a specific location in
mind. We'll assume that on an
average day the solar panels
generate their maximum power
for 5 hours.
In a "typical home" in America
electricity is used to provide
heat or air conditioning for the
house, the hot water, the
clothes dryer and the
stove/oven, things like the
refrigerator, the lights, the
computer, the TV, stereo
equipment, motors in things like
furnace fans and the washer,
etc. Let's say that all of those
things average out to 600 watts
on average. Over the course of
24 hours, you need 600 watts *
24 hours = 14,400 watt-hours
per day.
A solar panel can generate 70
milliwatts per square inch * 5
hours = 350 milliwatt hours per
day. Therefore you need about
41,000 square inches of solar
panel for the house in our
example. That's a solar panel
that measures about 285
square feet (about 26 square
meters).
inches of solar panel you need
for a house, you need to know:
• How much power the
house consumes on average.
• Where the house is
located (so you can calculate
mean solar days, average
rainfall, etc.). This question is
impossible to answer unless
you have a specific location in
mind. We'll assume that on an
average day the solar panels
generate their maximum power
for 5 hours.
In a "typical home" in America
electricity is used to provide
heat or air conditioning for the
house, the hot water, the
clothes dryer and the
stove/oven, things like the
refrigerator, the lights, the
computer, the TV, stereo
equipment, motors in things like
furnace fans and the washer,
etc. Let's say that all of those
things average out to 600 watts
on average. Over the course of
24 hours, you need 600 watts *
24 hours = 14,400 watt-hours
per day.
A solar panel can generate 70
milliwatts per square inch * 5
hours = 350 milliwatt hours per
day. Therefore you need about
41,000 square inches of solar
panel for the house in our
example. That's a solar panel
that measures about 285
square feet (about 26 square
meters).
Solar energy is energy directly from the Sun. This energy drives the climate and weather
and supports virtually all life on Earth. Heat and light from the sun, along with solar-based
resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of
the available flow of renewable energy.
Solar energy technologies harness the sun's energy for practical ends. These technologies
date from the time of the early Greeks, Native Americans and Chinese, who warmed their
buildings by orienting, or positioning them toward the sun. Modern solar technologies
provide heating, lighting, electricity and even flight.
Solar power is used synonymously with solar energy or more specifically to refer to the
conversion of sunlight into electricity. This can be done either through the photovoltaic
effect or by heating a transfer fluid to produce steam to run a generator.
and supports virtually all life on Earth. Heat and light from the sun, along with solar-based
resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of
the available flow of renewable energy.
Solar energy technologies harness the sun's energy for practical ends. These technologies
date from the time of the early Greeks, Native Americans and Chinese, who warmed their
buildings by orienting, or positioning them toward the sun. Modern solar technologies
provide heating, lighting, electricity and even flight.
Solar power is used synonymously with solar energy or more specifically to refer to the
conversion of sunlight into electricity. This can be done either through the photovoltaic
effect or by heating a transfer fluid to produce steam to run a generator.
What is Solar energy?
Solar energy is abundant and technologies are being advanced every day. Today's solar
panels are thinner, stronger, more efficient and lighter in weight than the panels of just a
few years ago. New solar panels are being developed that product more energy from a
smaller footprint.
panels are thinner, stronger, more efficient and lighter in weight than the panels of just a
few years ago. New solar panels are being developed that product more energy from a
smaller footprint.
Solar Energy is All Around Us.
Solar News from All Over
The Planet is Powered by the Sun
Solar panels have no moving
parts. You just mount them out
in the sun, hook up the wires,
and collect power, without
adding fuel or replacing
worn-out parts. It's amazing
that nobody knows for sure
how long a solar panel will last.
That's because many of the
very first photovoltaic panels
are still producing power today.
parts. You just mount them out
in the sun, hook up the wires,
and collect power, without
adding fuel or replacing
worn-out parts. It's amazing
that nobody knows for sure
how long a solar panel will last.
That's because many of the
very first photovoltaic panels
are still producing power today.
| Solar Photovoltaic (PV) --a zero maintenance, zero fuel cost electric generator |
Facts and Myths about Solar Energy
Myth: Solar energy can only serve a tiny fraction of US or world electricity needs.
Fact: Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology can meet electricity demand on any scale. The
solar energy resource in a 100-mile-square area of Nevada could supply the U.S. with all
its electricity using modestly efficient commercial PV modules.
Myth: Solar energy cannot significantly offset global warming.
Fact: If the industry continues to grow by 25% per year, which is the prediction, PV in the
United States will offset 10 million metric tons of CO2 per year by 2027. That’s equivalent
to the annual increase emitted by US electricity generation from fossil fuels.
Myth: A solar device requires more energy to manufacture than it will produce in its lifetime.
Fact: A PV system will produce much more energy than it consumes over its lifetime. In the
worst case, the energy payback for PV is less than four years. A PV module’s lifetime is
typically more than 20 years.
Myth: Solar is too expensive to catch on.
Fact: Every solar panel purchased makes the next one cheaper. As opposed to
nonrenewable sources, which become scarcer and more expensive with every ton that is
burned. When all is said and done, each cumulative production doubling drops the price
by about 20%.
Myth: Solar energy can only serve a tiny fraction of US or world electricity needs.
Fact: Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology can meet electricity demand on any scale. The
solar energy resource in a 100-mile-square area of Nevada could supply the U.S. with all
its electricity using modestly efficient commercial PV modules.
Myth: Solar energy cannot significantly offset global warming.
Fact: If the industry continues to grow by 25% per year, which is the prediction, PV in the
United States will offset 10 million metric tons of CO2 per year by 2027. That’s equivalent
to the annual increase emitted by US electricity generation from fossil fuels.
Myth: A solar device requires more energy to manufacture than it will produce in its lifetime.
Fact: A PV system will produce much more energy than it consumes over its lifetime. In the
worst case, the energy payback for PV is less than four years. A PV module’s lifetime is
typically more than 20 years.
Myth: Solar is too expensive to catch on.
Fact: Every solar panel purchased makes the next one cheaper. As opposed to
nonrenewable sources, which become scarcer and more expensive with every ton that is
burned. When all is said and done, each cumulative production doubling drops the price
by about 20%.
Copyright 2008 Harold R Muxlow