Zero-Energy Home Costs

Today the average American generates 21 tons (46,000 lb) of carbon dioxide a year (some of the green cities in California and elsewhere have reduced 

Post-Oil Energy Technology After the Age of Fossil Fuels 

The payback periods of alternative energy installations range from 5 to 20 years, with solar hot water systems being the least expensive and solar-hydrogen systems the most. The payback period for installing a photovoltaic (PV) electricity-generating system in California is about 15 years. This number is based on a home with a monthly electricity bill of 100, an installed system cost of 50,000, and a rebate plus tax credit of 20,000. If the monthly electricity bill is 250, the payback period drops to about 8 years, and if one also considers the increase in the value of the home, the payback period can drop to about 4 years. These payback periods were calculated on the assumption that the electricity cost in the area is 12 /kWh, and it will not rise. As was mentioned earlier, this cost in my household in Connecticut is 18.9c /kWh and rising. 

In 2006, the unit cost of solar electricity from a typical 5 kilowatt (kWp) rooftop system was 30c /kWh in Germany, 19c /kWh in Spain and 22tf/kWh in California. By 2010, Photon Consulting estimates that solar electricity will be produced for 18c /kWh in southern Germany, 12c /kWh in Spain, and 13( / kWh in California. In the United States the typical capital costs including system installation were approximately 3,600/kWp in 2007, with some installations costing only 3,000/kWp. These prices are expected to drop further as government subsidies rise and mass production starts. 

The generating capacity of solar collector systems used for private homes ranges from 5 to 10 kWp The yearly energy bill of an average household in the north-central United States is about 4,500 ( 2,500 for heat and hot water, 2,000 for electricity). (See http //www.findsolar.com/index. php page=rightforme to obtain more data on the energy use of American households.) 

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