DIY Solar Panels?

Just wondering if anyone has attempted a DIY solar panel and or windturbine?

I'm sure everyone would love to cut there energy bills, but honestly who has 10-20k to drop on a roof full of solar panels? It would take like 10 years for it to pay for itself, assuming they last that long.

I'v been reading up on buying used/blemished solar cells on ebay for uber cheap in bundles. And with alittle ingenuity and many trips to homedepot, it's entirely possible.

Would be nice to get first hand experience from someone who attempted this already.

I live in a house with roomates, and a pool, and jacuzzi, and multiple band practices/jam sesh's with tons of amps/equipment, needless to say we got high bills.

Ive never attempted one, but I've always questioned why going green has to be so expensive? If the government really gave a shit, solar panels would be supplied and you would be rewarded with tax breaks by going off-grid.

The government does offer a rebate...I checked into this a year or two ago. It was very expensive, my home is 2000 sq ft. (not that large) and I was estimated 30K after the rebate check from the gov't. Too expensive for me, I hope one day it will be more affordable.

Sunnysideup said:

The government does offer a rebate...I checked into this a year or two ago. It was very expensive, my home is 2000 sq ft. (not that large) and I was estimated 30K after the rebate check from the gov't. Too expensive for me, I hope one day it will be more affordable.

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exactly, but i'm saying if the govt won't make it affordable and It's too expensive to buy, then what? They will complain and use fearmongering to get you to reduce your out-put, but that doesn't actually acomplish anything either. If it is as important as they say then they won't mind accomidating every citizen with alternative energy right?

Why do that when they can tax energy costs? The government doesn't care about you, me, the USA, or the planet. All they're worried about is that all powerful greenback.

Canada 's out -put is 2% of the world's "greenhouse" gases. and for some reason we are on the hook for kyoto? Fuck that, hit the worst polluters like china.