Homework Help is Here – Start Your Trial Now!
Engineering
Chemical Engineering
The cost of a single solar panel lies in the range of $200 to $400, depending on the power output of the panel and the material it is made from. Before investing in equipping your home with solar power, it is wise to see whether the savings in the cost of electricity would justify the amount you would invest in the panels. a) Suppose your monthly electrical usage equals the national U.S. household average of 948 kWh. Assuming an average of five hours of sunlight per day and a 30-day month, calculate how many panels you would need to provide that amount of energy and what the total cost would be for each of the following two types of panels: (i) 140W panel that costs $210; (ii) 240W panel that costs $260. What is your conclusion? b) Suppose you decide to install the 240W panels, and the average cost of electricity purchased over the next three years is $0.15/kWh. What would the total cost savings be over that 3-year period? What more would you need to know to determine whether the investment in the solar panels would pay off?

The cost of a single solar panel lies in the range of $200 to $400, depending on the power output of the panel and the material it is made from. Before investing in equipping your home with solar power, it is wise to see whether the savings in the cost of electricity would justify the amount you would invest in the panels. a) Suppose your monthly electrical usage equals the national U.S. household average of 948 kWh. Assuming an average of five hours of sunlight per day and a 30-day month, calculate how many panels you would need to provide that amount of energy and what the total cost would be for each of the following two types of panels: (i) 140W panel that costs $210; (ii) 240W panel that costs $260. What is your conclusion? b) Suppose you decide to install the 240W panels, and the average cost of electricity purchased over the next three years is $0.15/kWh. What would the total cost savings be over that 3-year period? What more would you need to know to determine whether the investment in the solar panels would pay off?

Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P
See similar textbooks
icon
Related questions
Question
The cost of a single solar panel lies in the range of $200 to $400, depending on the power output of the panel and the material it is made from. Before investing in equipping your home with solar power, it is wise to see whether the savings in the cost of electricity would justify the amount you would invest in the panels. a) Suppose your monthly electrical usage equals the national U.S. household average of 948 kWh. Assuming an average of five hours of sunlight per day and a 30-day month, calculate how many panels you would need to provide that amount of energy and what the total cost would be for each of the following two types of panels: (i) 140W panel that costs $210; (ii) 240W panel that costs $260. What is your conclusion? b) Suppose you decide to install the 240W panels, and the average cost of electricity purchased over the next three years is $0.15/kWh. What would the total cost savings be over that 3-year period? What more would you need to know to determine whether the investment in the solar panels would pay off?
Transcribed Image Text:The cost of a single solar panel lies in the range of $200 to $400, depending on the power output of the panel and the material it is made from. Before investing in equipping your home with solar power, it is wise to see whether the savings in the cost of electricity would justify the amount you would invest in the panels. a) Suppose your monthly electrical usage equals the national U.S. household average of 948 kWh. Assuming an average of five hours of sunlight per day and a 30-day month, calculate how many panels you would need to provide that amount of energy and what the total cost would be for each of the following two types of panels: (i) 140W panel that costs $210; (ii) 240W panel that costs $260. What is your conclusion? b) Suppose you decide to install the 240W panels, and the average cost of electricity purchased over the next three years is $0.15/kWh. What would the total cost savings be over that 3-year period? What more would you need to know to determine whether the investment in the solar panels would pay off?
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 4 images

SEE SOLUTIONCheck out a sample Q&A here
Blurred answer
Recommended textbooks for you
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynami…
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynami…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781259696527
Author:
J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781118431221
Author:
Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
Publisher:
WILEY
Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering (5th Ed…
Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering (5th Ed…
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9780133887518
Author:
H. Scott Fogler
Publisher:
Prentice Hall
Process Dynamics and Control, 4e
Process Dynamics and Control, 4e
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781119285915
Author:
Seborg
Publisher:
WILEY
Industrial Plastics: Theory and Applications
Industrial Plastics: Theory and Applications
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9781285061238
Author:
Lokensgard, Erik
Publisher:
Delmar Cengage Learning
Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering
Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
ISBN:
9780072848236
Author:
Warren McCabe, Julian C. Smith, Peter Harriott
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Companies, The
SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS