Solar panels might be cheaper than Americans think

Solar panels might be cheaper than Americans think San Francisco, April 24, 2012 - As many as 97 percent of Americans overestimate the costs of installing a house solar system, according to a study released by Sunrun and conducted by Harris Interactive. Adults (40 percent) think it requires $20,000 or more in upfront costs, grossly overestimating the true cost of installing home solar. Harris Interactive conducted the study online in February 2012 among 2,211 U. homeowners who don't already have solar panels would install solar if cost were not a factor, and 44 percent would go solar within the next year if they knew cost were not a factor. Over the past 12 months, market share for solar power service climbed steadily in California and reached about 75 percent of the home solar market in February 2012. As solar provides less than 1 percent of electricity in the U. adults who do pay and/or are aware of their utility costs cited their rising utility rates as a concern - yet homeowners remain paralyzed by misconceptions about what it costs to install solar. , according to the U. The survey indicates nearly 8 out of 10 (78 percent) U. adults, of whom 1,475 were identified as homeowners. While only 3 percent accurately recognise that installing solar can cost less than $1,000 upfront, 4 out of 10 U. The vast majority of Americans are concerned about rising home energy costs from utility companies - 95 percent of U. In reality, installing solar can cost as little as zero dollars upfront because of an option known as solar power service. Although many Americans don't realize there is a way to go solar without the high upfront costs, solar power service - also known as third-party-owned solar - has become the preferred way for consumers to go solar in the nation's leading solar markets. Energy Information Administration (EIA), there remains room for growth. Solar panels might be cheaper than Americans think Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 25/04/2012