Lot's of factors should be considered before you decide whether photovoltaic (pv) solar power is right for your home. Latitude. Southern exposure. Shading. Cost.
Yea, that last one. That's the one that's tricky.
There's no getting around it. Placing PV panels on your house incurs a sizable up front cost. But here too there are many factors to consider. State and federal tax credits, deductions and low interest loans are available. Also, when viewed as a long term investment, solar power becomes a much more attractive proposition. Luckily, there is a website that helps to sort out all the variables.
findsolar.com is a joint partnership between the American Solar Energy Society, Solar Electric Power Association, Energy Matters LLC, and the U.S. Department of Energy. The web site gives consumers a place to estimate costs and output of solar systems for hot water, electricity, and pool or spa heating. The user can customize his search to include such variables as- state tax breaks available, local electricity company costs, rates of electricity inflation, as well as many others. It's the best place to start when you are beginning to weigh the options for your own personal energy future.
Remember- solar energy is not controlled by any government and is 100% inflation free.