Glen from Lovettsville asks: ARE TODAY'S SOLAR ENERGY BUILDING PRODUCTS REALLY PRACTICAL TO USE IN MY HOME?

Of course they are! First off, I'll tell you that today's solar products are not the hideous, awkward technologies of the 1970's energy crisis era. There are many solar energy installations that make good sense in a residential setting. But before I get into the products, I'd say the best thing a builder or homeowner can do in a new house or addition is to site the building with as many windows facing south as possible with large roof overhangs. The overhangs prevent too much solar gain in the summer but allow plenty of sunlight in during the winter months when the angle of the sun is lower. Also in rooms with southern exposure, try to include a good thermal mass; something like a tile floor or a masonry structure like a fireplace to collect all that sunlight. Perhaps you're not planning to build new or renovate, so you might consider a solar water heater, which uses sunlight to heat circulating water. These systems aren't terribly expensive and once installed don't require any day to day operation; they just do the work all on their own. The water can be used for domestic hot water needs or home heating. Photovoltaic (sun powered electricity) is usually a bigger investment so it takes quite a bit longer for a "payoff", but you can also start out in a small way. Our chicken coop is "off the grid" with some very inexpensive photovoltaic panels for indoor & outdoor lighting. It's always going to require some sort of investment up front, but every year, technology gets better for these products, and I expect more and more installers are going to acquire the training to be on top of this excellent energy source. A good place to start learning about this growing technology is a government website http://www.energy.gov/energysources/solar.htm, which will give you an overview about the subject. There are also a number of websites about solar products, do it yourself topics, and the like. As always, if you hire someone to work on your home, make sure they're licensed and insured, and ask for references and certifications.

Phil Bzdyk, a long time resident of Loudoun County, and owner of Apple House Carpentry, will gladly answer your home remodeling questions. Certified as a Green Builder and Aging-in-Place Specialist, Phil keeps current with new industry advances and technologies. Please email your questions to us at: applehousecarpentry@verizon.net