Solar Powered Houses

Solar energy today has become a major source of energy that is both safer and cheaper than other conventional sources of energy. It can be used to supply power to houses, offices, and condos. Today houses throughout the UA are designed keeping solar energy in mind. In 1979 New Hampshire was the first condominium village to that made extensive use of solar energy. The buildings were constructed with glass solar panels that were extremely aesthetic and offered a scenic view of the landscape. The beauty of the village was widely appreciated and the developer responsible was much in demand for executing many similar projects in other parts of the country.

By 2007, Boulder, Colorado has plans of building 13 homes that would run exclusively on solar power. Called Solar Row, this project is the first of its kind in this area. This project is entirely designed to utilize solar energy to the fullest extent for day-to-day living.

Several states, including California are actively encouraging housing projects that are solar powered. In the next ten years a minimum fifty percent houses in California will be designed to use solar energy. This is a fitting solution to the acute energy crisis that prevailed in the state 3 years ago, when energy consumers were unable to pay very high electricity bills. The government of California has pans to grant rebates to the builders who install solar panels in their new constructions. Existing constructions may also come under this scheme. Environment groups support these proposals and consider these pioneering moves as something that other states would do well to try and copy. If such incentive schemes are implemented by all states, this would result in a increase in demand for solar panels, which would eventually reduce the price tremendously.

The pressure exerted by environmental groups has resulted in plans being made at the federal level to introduce legislation promoting solar energy use. A solar incentive bill has already been approved by Senate, which is now being reviewed by the Assembly Committee. This bill has recommended the use of solar panels in at least fifteen percent of the houses that will be constructed after 2010. After that a ten percent increase every year is proposed till a 55% target is reached.

One of the reasons why the building industry has opposed the introduction of this new bill is the fear that construction costs will escalate considerably. The matter can only be resolved amicably if and when Congress agrees to provide some kind of monetary incentives that would offset the additional burden of cost.

The cost of building homes that use solar panels is likely to increase by as much as $17,000 to $20,000 per home. I time, people will hopefully realize the pollution-reducing benefits of solar technology and be more prepared to accept its use in their homes.