Residential solar power actually represents but a very small fraction of the total energy consumption of households world wide.
Paul Kopper, a housing developer in the State of Michigan in the US is nearing completion on plans to begin his latest dream of building a 42 lot subdivision with each house having it's own complete solar roof.
It is reported that the homes, each ranging in size of between 1800 and 3000 sq.ft. will provide both cooling and heating with the shingles actually generating the electricity.
The solar power fever is spreading rapidly as both more builders and homeowners are not only attempting to stop the financial bleeding due to the rising cost of conventional power but are also seeking the benefits of subsidies, tax credits and the ever advancing technology that will allow all of us to turn our roofs into our own personal solar power plants.
The cost of residential solar has been prohibitive over the years and the technology somewhat inefficient but recent interest by the tech community and advancement in the technology and materials used to generate solar power has sparked interest from all 4 corners of the earth.
Ben Block, writing for World Watch Institute released a report today, Aug. 13, 2008 that at least 17,000 megawatts of wind, solar and geothermal energy sources are now under construction in the US
The Energy Information Administration has also come out with a statement siting that renewable energy will account for approximately one third of the power generation coming online to the US power grid within the next 3 years.
Solar panel installation reportedly increased nearly 45 percent last year over 2006. The US currently ranks fourth in solar energy production behind Germany, Japan, and Spain.
On another front, several new companies have come out with a variety of solar powered air conditioning units for the home.
One of the most power draining appliances in your home is in fact the air conditioning. With the new systems being developed it won't be long until you too can say goodbye to high cooling and heating costs.
The great news about these units is that for many the costs savings are so great that whole house solar units are not necessary as some solar dealers would have you believe.
With so many new players coming into the market and solar technology rapidly advancing, it is predicted that the current cost of whole house solar installation could drop by as much as 50% within the next 16 months.
Many solar alternatives exist for your home today, right this minute that you can purchase relatively inexpensively and install quickly. There is a great deal of valuable information to be found online if you know where to look.
Check into it now and you too can take a giant bite out of your power bill starting today.