Building an Addition for an Elderly Parent Project

Installing Solar Panels to Generate Electricity Video

Photovoltaic panels are being installed on the roof. Bob talks with Jeff Wolf from groSolar about the photovoltaic panels. As sunlight hits the panels, electricity is generated from the photons. That direct current comes down through a wire into the house and is channeled into an inverter. The inverter is in the basement of the home. The inverter converts the direct current from solar power into an alternating current. That alternating current is fed into the main electrical panel and feeds the house with solar power. When the house is not using its electrical energy generated from the panels, the electricity is fed back into the utility grid and spins the meter backwards, creating a credit for the customer. The photovoltaic panels are a clean way of generating energy for the household. Many states have programs to help subsidize the cost of installing solar panels to make them more affordable for homeowners. Many parts of the country are seeing electricity costs escalate by as much as 80 percent so this is a good idea. groSolar operates throughout the country and has a website at www.grosolar.com where people can find out how to work with them to install solar panels on their home anywhere in the U.S. This installation in Norwell is about a $15,000 project and considering the amount of equity it builds in the house, it is something worth considering. With assistnace from state programs, the cost can come down to half that figure, making it a very affordable investment for a homeowner.

Additional Bob Vila Showrooms
• FloorMall.com - Hardwood Flooring and Area Rugs
• Radiantec - Radiantec Solar heating systems for home heat
• Radiantec - Radiantec: radiant floor and solar heat & hot water systems
• ZN Custom Building - Modular Homes
• NewGrass - Natural-looking, natural-feeling synthetic grass for artificial lawns
• Western Red Cedar Lumber Association - Real Cedar for Siding, Decking and Outdoor Projects

Doors & Windows
• Pella - Impervia patio door and energy-efficient dual-sash windows

Floors, Stairs & Elevators
• Howard Brickman Consulting (Norwell, MA) - General contracting and project management

Heat, Ventilation & Cooling
• Water Out - Water and moisture removal from building materials and structures

Masonry & Faux Stone
• Powers Fasteners - Siding fasteners for masonry application
• SlabSafe - Concrete slab moisture monitoring system

Renewable Energy - Solar, Biomass, Wind
• groSolar - Photovoltaic roof panels and power inverter

Roofing & Siding
• Azek Trimboards - Exterior cellular PVC trim
• GAF - Deck-armor breathable roof deck protection and StormGuard film-surfaced leak barrier
• James Hardie - Hardiplank fiber-cement horizontal-lap siding
• MetalRoofingWholesalers.com - Galvalume standing-seam metal roof
• The Metal Men - Galvalume standing-seam metal roof installation

Structural & Framing
• HydroLab - Moisture monitoring and mapping in new construction
• ReddiForm Inc. - ReddiForm polystyrene, snap-together insulated forms for ICF construction

Tools & Workshop
• Todol Pur-Stick - Gun Foam construction adhesive

> View All Product Resources


	Other Video Clips from this Episode

	Preparing Surface for Installation of Galvalume Metal Roof Bob makes his fourth visit to the home in Norwell, Massachusetts, where an addition is being put on a Colonial home. The project has involved the use of insulated concrete ... Watch video and view full description
	NOW PLAYING Installing Solar Panels to Generate Electricity Photovoltaic panels are being installed on the roof. Bob talks with Jeff Wolf from groSolar about the photovoltaic panels. As sunlight hits the panels, electricity is generated from the photons. ...
	Pella Energy Star Rated Fiberglass Windows and Sliding Glass Patio Doors Once the roof is in place, the windows and sliding patio door in the back can be installed. The windows are from a new fiberglass window line from Pella, which ... Watch video and view full description
	Drying Out Construction Materials To Prevent Mold Growth Once all the windows are in place, drying out the interior of the addition can be addressed. This drying-out process has become a concern for builders all over the country ... Watch video and view full description
	Determining Moisture Content in Concrete Floors Bob talks with homeowner Howard Brickman about drying out of the new addition. Concrete can pose problems for the wood-floor installation business. Brickman's consulting business created a device that measures ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing Fiber-Cement Siding While the house is being dried out, the siding can be put in place. The furring strips are attached to the foam exterior with an adhesive foam. Fasteners are ... Watch video and view full description
	Fiber-Cement Siding Hardiplank, a product made of fiber cement, will be used for the siding. The planks are made of a mix of wood fiber and cement, which work well together. The ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing the Cellular PVC Trim on the New Addition The trim in New England houses has traditionally been made from pine or cedar. Bob talks with Kristen Baer of Azek Trimboards about their product, a cellular PVC trim made ... Watch video and view full description