Solar Heat & PV

Check out the links below for more interesting reading:

www.homepower.com/rogues.htm Top secret - illegally connected to the utility - no gov't red tape! Run your electric meter backwards. Humorous website.
www.solarcell.net/ The cheapest solar cells and kits anywhere.
Solar Energy Society of Canada, Inc.Canadian Solar Industries Association
www.energyalternatives.ca/
www.solarthermal.com Thermomax domestic hot water heat solar systems using a unique technology of evacuated tubes.

Click on the Solar Electric link at left for information you should know if you are attempting a solar electric installation or contemplating it or want to soak in information!

See the Solar Heating link at left for more information on high efficiency domestic hot water and hydronic heating including backup woodheat.

Here's my "take" on the subject.

Solar energy takes a lot of investment dollars to create a truly working, efficient system.

There are basically two types of systems. Grid-interconnected and stand-alone systems which use some sort of energy storage such as large batteries.
Grid systems are usually more efficient because there is less power conversion from low voltage DC to AC which is used in your home. It is also much less expensive of an initial investment.
On the other hand, grid systems don't function at all unless you have some sort of a disconnect switch if there is a power failure from the electric utility company. Of course if you live in a rural location you have only one choice... storage battery system with inverters to generate 120v AC power.
The other advantage of both systems is environmental friendliness. Your system won't be generating any exhaust emissions compared to natural gas utility power plants or diverting rivers with dams and flooding large areas.
New technology brings high efficiency to domestic hot water solar heating systems. Payback on those systems is less than 15 years which is very reasonable considering the investment payback on other options.

At the moment the payoff is not very attractive for solar electric systems. It's about the same as replacing your single glaze windows with double pane... $25,000 and 50year amortization. Most people don't live that long in the same house so if you're going to go solar then try to design your system that it can be uninstalled and moved to your new house.

I haven't looked into passive solar as of yet.

Now if you really want to save electricity (ie. energy bills) there is a much faster payoff when you replace your major appliances to high efficiency models. For instance, on a solar system it really isn't practical to run large energy consumers such as your electric clothes dryer or standard washing machine or fan-forced electrical heaters.... unless you have $100,000 worth of panels and storage batteries and inverters in your system. The key is energy savings. If you have the money, convert to a European style horizontal washing machine (the ones with the window in the front). Compare specifications of all major appliances to try to find the ones that have the best features and least energy consumption. Look for thicker insulation for a refrigerator for instance. It is puzzling how the European appliances are better designed and more efficient than their North American counterparts. Energy costs is Europe have always been traditionally higher than North America, therefore their appliances reflect this difference. It has been only the last few years that major appliance manufacturers such as AEG and BOSCH have brought some of their European models to our shores.

You know those energy-saving compact flourescent bulbs that you can buy to replace regular incadescents? Usually really expensive right... $15-25 each even at Home Depot. If you haven't seen them yet, check out what IKEA has to offer. Their bulbs are available in many sizes from 7watt to 20watt which put out the same as equivalent 40-100watt regular bulbs but using 1/5 or less energy. As a bonus they are all less than $10 each. I believe the 11 watt bulb was $6! Stock up now. But you can't use these bulbs with dimmer switches and they take a second to turn on once you flick the switch. Great for night-time outdoor lights though, and any lights that are left on for long periods.