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skattered0
I was wondering how much the average person knows about using the suns energy to power the average residential home...
Do you know of any countries that already use the sun to power homes?
please tell me where you are from as well please...
thankyou!
Answer
Hey 0077, to answer your primary question, I am quite familiar with solar power. We've been powering our home from the wind and sun for 11 years now, and for the last 5 or 6 years, we've been going into the local schools and doing seminars on the subject. In some cases, the schools have loaded a bus with kids and brought them out to our home to see it first hand. As for your second question, the average homeowner knows about as much about solar power as they do about the furnace in their basement. Unfortunately, this is where the technology has fallen down. Lots of people want to build a new home, and talk to the builder about solar power. Frequently they are told, "Solar doesn't work," or, "Solar is prohibitively expensive." Generally this is all they need to hear, and the panels are taken off the house plan.
Solar is not for everyone, or everyplace. Just because a home has solar panels does not mean they don't have an electric bill, and that says nothing to the fact that a stand alone solar home that does not have access to utility power has to live with a finite amount of electricity. What do they do on a cloudy week? Most stand alone homes, like ours was, use both wind and solar. The reason for this is that the two compliment each other quite well. In the summer, we have long sunny days, but little wind. In the fall and winter, we have short cloudy days, and high winds. When you have a shortage of one, there is generally a surplus of the other. Trying to decide between the two technologies is like trying to decide between a 3 passenger pickup truck and an 8 passenger van as your sole family car. Each has its advantages, but it probably makes sense for a two car family to have one of each.
There is also the fact that lots of people like to grow their own tomatoes, even if it is cheaper to buy them at the market. They have to learn all about watering, bugs, soil ph and weeding. People who live in a solar powered home have a similar curse, they can tell you just how much sun shined last November, and how much power the stereo uses down to the last watthour. Any self respecting homeowner wouldn't bother with the solar power, or the tomatoes, they would simply buy vegetables at the store, and electricity from the power company, and then sit home and complain about the price and quality of each. That used to be me, now I'm the other guy.
So no, the average homeowner does not know much about solar power, or furnaces. Most homes have furnaces, not many have solar panels. I wish they had both. In the 11 years we have had both, I can tell you that once solar power is installed, it is generally care free. We are on our third wind turbine here, and even though the last one is working better than the first two, it has had its moments. It has shut down 3 times, and had to be repaired twice. In all that time, my first solar panel has continued to make electricity, and I've never turned a screw on it or added a drop of oil. Yet, everyone I talk to about renewable energy wants to learn more about wind turbines it seems. They are neat, they move, they seem to have their own personality. They just require tall towers and routine maintenance. So does a car, and almost everyone has one of those too.
Many countries use solar power, almost all of them in fact, you just never hear about it, or see the panels in service. In the US alone there are over 100,000 homes and businesses using some level of solar power right now to operate at least some of their loads. That number is getting bigger as you read this by the way. I'll list some sources you can check out below if you want to learn more. Take care 0077, Rudydoo
Hey 0077, to answer your primary question, I am quite familiar with solar power. We've been powering our home from the wind and sun for 11 years now, and for the last 5 or 6 years, we've been going into the local schools and doing seminars on the subject. In some cases, the schools have loaded a bus with kids and brought them out to our home to see it first hand. As for your second question, the average homeowner knows about as much about solar power as they do about the furnace in their basement. Unfortunately, this is where the technology has fallen down. Lots of people want to build a new home, and talk to the builder about solar power. Frequently they are told, "Solar doesn't work," or, "Solar is prohibitively expensive." Generally this is all they need to hear, and the panels are taken off the house plan.
Solar is not for everyone, or everyplace. Just because a home has solar panels does not mean they don't have an electric bill, and that says nothing to the fact that a stand alone solar home that does not have access to utility power has to live with a finite amount of electricity. What do they do on a cloudy week? Most stand alone homes, like ours was, use both wind and solar. The reason for this is that the two compliment each other quite well. In the summer, we have long sunny days, but little wind. In the fall and winter, we have short cloudy days, and high winds. When you have a shortage of one, there is generally a surplus of the other. Trying to decide between the two technologies is like trying to decide between a 3 passenger pickup truck and an 8 passenger van as your sole family car. Each has its advantages, but it probably makes sense for a two car family to have one of each.
There is also the fact that lots of people like to grow their own tomatoes, even if it is cheaper to buy them at the market. They have to learn all about watering, bugs, soil ph and weeding. People who live in a solar powered home have a similar curse, they can tell you just how much sun shined last November, and how much power the stereo uses down to the last watthour. Any self respecting homeowner wouldn't bother with the solar power, or the tomatoes, they would simply buy vegetables at the store, and electricity from the power company, and then sit home and complain about the price and quality of each. That used to be me, now I'm the other guy.
So no, the average homeowner does not know much about solar power, or furnaces. Most homes have furnaces, not many have solar panels. I wish they had both. In the 11 years we have had both, I can tell you that once solar power is installed, it is generally care free. We are on our third wind turbine here, and even though the last one is working better than the first two, it has had its moments. It has shut down 3 times, and had to be repaired twice. In all that time, my first solar panel has continued to make electricity, and I've never turned a screw on it or added a drop of oil. Yet, everyone I talk to about renewable energy wants to learn more about wind turbines it seems. They are neat, they move, they seem to have their own personality. They just require tall towers and routine maintenance. So does a car, and almost everyone has one of those too.
Many countries use solar power, almost all of them in fact, you just never hear about it, or see the panels in service. In the US alone there are over 100,000 homes and businesses using some level of solar power right now to operate at least some of their loads. That number is getting bigger as you read this by the way. I'll list some sources you can check out below if you want to learn more. Take care 0077, Rudydoo
If I itemize my taxes do I have to keep my reciepts for everything?
unwonted
I have some medical bills that I would like to claim on my taxes but I was told that if I itemize my taxes then I have to keep my recepits for everything. Even if I buy something at the dollar store, to eating out, etc? Or do I just have to keep the receipts for the things that I am claiming?
Answer
When you itemize your deductions on your tax return, you only need to keep receipts that prove that item is an authentic deduction.
If you claim medical expenses, then save all receipts from prescriptions and medical bills you've paid. When I pay a bill, I mark on my receipt...Paid 1/25/08 Check #754 and stick the receipt into a file folder. I also have my cancelled checks returned to me each month. If you're ever audited, you flip through your medical bills, attach the check to each...proof what you have paid.
If you're in sales...and will claim vehicle expenses and depreciation, client lunches, etc...then keep a notebook in your car, make note of your milage, gas, oil changes, repairs, etc...along with every receipt.
If you have a home office and plan to deduct part of your household expenses...then you'll need to save receipts from mortgage, electric, gas, water, taxes, insurance, repairs, etc...to prove the percentage of your home that is used for business...that you're claiming.
The IRS is only interested in seeing receipts for the exact item you're deducting on your tax return...so don't worry about keeping any receipts for personal, general purchases like lunch with the kids at Micky D's or cat food and munchies at Dollar General.
BUT...don't be disapppointed if you try to claim your medical expenses...and don't meet the allowed % of expenses vs. income. We've had some nasty medical expenses and never could meet their limit.
Hope that helps a little <:O)
When you itemize your deductions on your tax return, you only need to keep receipts that prove that item is an authentic deduction.
If you claim medical expenses, then save all receipts from prescriptions and medical bills you've paid. When I pay a bill, I mark on my receipt...Paid 1/25/08 Check #754 and stick the receipt into a file folder. I also have my cancelled checks returned to me each month. If you're ever audited, you flip through your medical bills, attach the check to each...proof what you have paid.
If you're in sales...and will claim vehicle expenses and depreciation, client lunches, etc...then keep a notebook in your car, make note of your milage, gas, oil changes, repairs, etc...along with every receipt.
If you have a home office and plan to deduct part of your household expenses...then you'll need to save receipts from mortgage, electric, gas, water, taxes, insurance, repairs, etc...to prove the percentage of your home that is used for business...that you're claiming.
The IRS is only interested in seeing receipts for the exact item you're deducting on your tax return...so don't worry about keeping any receipts for personal, general purchases like lunch with the kids at Micky D's or cat food and munchies at Dollar General.
BUT...don't be disapppointed if you try to claim your medical expenses...and don't meet the allowed % of expenses vs. income. We've had some nasty medical expenses and never could meet their limit.
Hope that helps a little <:O)
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Title Post: How familiar are you with using solar electricity to power a residential house?
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