As utility bills climb, a growing number of states are adopting "balcony solar" — portable, affordable kits that can knock up to 20 percent
I've previously posted stories about balcony solar in Germany and Utah. Now 28 US states and Washington DC have bills in the works to move DIY balcony solar out of the legal gray area it currently occupies and fully legalize it. You can track the bills' progress state by state here.
These are solar panels that can be plugged directly into regular household outlets in order to offset household electricity use with no utility approval, expensive installation, etc. Depending on the size of the panel and local energy prices, they can save up to $40-$50 a month and pay for themselves in as little as two years--and there are organizations like Bright Saver that work to provide free panels to low income families!
From the article:
For Phillips, balcony solar is more than a means to save money; it’s a step toward a healthier future. She’s a third-generation native of the Bronx, an area disproportionately burdened by noxious pollutants. “I was actually hospitalized with an asthma attack last year,” Phillips said. “For me, anything that we can do to green our power grid, to reduce pollution, is a matter of justice — especially for people who live where I live.” Phillips has been talking to friends and family about her mini power plant. “Everybody wants one,” she said. States simply need to pass their portable solar bills to open the floodgates, Phillips noted. “I can’t wait to see solar panels peeking out of everyone’s balcony.”
