What you need to know about solar energy

Producing your own electricity from solar energy is increasingly attractive to homeowners.

Most important to many fans are the environmental benefits — they no longer burn fossil fuels or contribute to air pollution when watching television or washing dishes or clothes.

The economic benefits are second. Yes, there's a substantial upfront investment, but they aren't paying an electric company as much or in some cases anything. And within 10 to 15 years those savings pay for the system.

Technological breakthroughs to improve the efficiency of solar systems continue.

For example, Peter Fletcher of Lisle, a homeowner who installed a solar system two years ago, praises the small micro inverters. These convert the direct current harvested from the sun to the alternating current your house uses.

In systems with one big inverter, a faulty panel or partial shade can seriously affect the efficiency of the whole system, he said. With the new micro inverters, each panel is independent and continues with maximum efficiency no matter what the others are doing.

Here is information about solar energy in the suburbs gleaned from homeowners and installers.

How much does it cost? Expect to pay at least $20,000. Homeowners we talked with spent more. This is expected to pay for itself in reduced electricity costs in 10 to 15 years, depending on how many government benefits you can obtain. Richard Born of DeKalb says he paid about $14,800 for his $37,000 system after government credits and rebates, so the energy savings should allow him to break even in about six years. And the panels should last at least 25 years.

Why aren't more people buying? This payback period is disappointing to many homeowners who want payback in three to five years, said Brad James, project manager for Shamrock Electric in Elk Grove Village. On the plus side, the panels are more economical with a watt of production probably one third what it was eight years ago, he said.

Government incentives: While fans say the 30 percent federal tax credit for a solar installation is reliable, the amount Illinois puts up for rebates each year disappears very quickly. Homeowners can also sell renewable energy credits.

A breakthrough? You can lease panels rather than purchase them, While this eliminates the need for the upfront capital, it also takes away some of the economic advantages.

But we live in the frigid north, not California? We get plenty of sun, insist solar fans. And Fletcher points out that solar panels really work better on cooler days. His two record electricity production days were chilly, sunny days in April.

What about trees? You want the panels to face as close to south as possible. And shade — trees, vents, other buildings, even fences — are a problem. Fletcher cut down one large tree to make his system work. Contractors have tools that show exactly how much energy a system on your site will produce, said James. And yes, you collect sun on cloudy days, say James and Ray Grimm of A.W.E. (Air. Water. Energy.) in Carol Stream.

Backup plan: Yes, you can still use power from the electric company, and when you create excess you feed it to the company for a credit.

Are the neighbors going to hate the appearance? Well, the people we talked with have it on the rear of their houses, but panels that can lie flat on your roof (with a little space between them and the shingles) are less conspicuous than the raised ones you might be thinking of. James said a homeowners association might raise questions, but he has never had trouble with municipalities. Born likes the looks and says his friends and family still enjoy the back yard without aesthetic issues.

How big a system should I get? Talk with contractors. Sometimes getting those last extra kilowatts can cost too much. Fletcher of Lisle is happy with his 4.14 kilowatt system, even though his house uses a little over 5 kilowatts. He does not think that producing extra energy for ComEd would be worthwhile. Richard Born, associate professor of business emeritus at Northern Illinois University, disagrees. He says the electricity he sends to the electric company means he breaks even on the cost of the power he uses. He gets a higher credit if he sends electricity during high-cost periods like hot summer afternoons.

We remodeled our kitchen, and that was a nightmare. Will this be disruptive? Fletcher says no; it was probably the least disruptive house project he's experienced. Most of the action is on the roof, with conduit in the attic and down the side of the house. The rest is in the basement, he said, as the wires are connected to the main breaker box.

The future: James said solar panels that look like roof shingles are available, as are those that resemble awnings. Developers are talking about windows that collect energy, and one company is working on creating a paint.

And Sharp Electronics Corp. has announced a “starter system” that will allow homeowners to install an off the shelf module for less than $1,000, then add to it over the years. The SunSnap AC Solution will be available in 2012, the company said.

Other notes: Make sure you have a good roof. It will be very costly to remove the panels to replace the roof in five years. Tom DeBates, owner of HABI-TEK in Geneva, which installed the systems for both Fletcher and Born, recommends you first make your house as efficient as possible before buying a solar system.

And don't let the current controversy over the bankruptcy of Solyndra, a panel manufacturer, affect your opinion of solar energy, said Born. He loves his system and bought a Chevrolet Volt.

Resource guide

There are a number of websites where residents can find information on solar energy:

<a href="">Ÿ Illinoissolar.org

Ÿ www.nrel.gov/solar/

Ÿ energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Ÿ Renewableenergyworld.com;http://Illinoissolar.org</a>