I'm planning a passive solar home in MN.   In anticipation of near future breakthroughs in more affordable solar panels is there any advance prep I should think about doing in new construction?  (running conduit/raceways? etc...)   or is a retrofit easy and minimally invasive?  How much rooftop area would be required for the panels?  Home sq ft will be around 4000.

Slenzen,

I just read an article the other day that dealt with retrofitting a large photovoltaic system to an existing home.  Retrofitting was very expensive.  This article strongly recommended that provisions be made for future PV's on new home.  I believe this article stated that the retrofitting cost $12,000.

Here is the web site:  http://teslafounders.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/solar-synergy/ 

Thanks for the helpful link Alton.

Slenzen,

Europe is far ahead of present passive building in the USA. http://www.passiv.de will help you on your way.
the IEA Annex group 32 is meeting in Trondheim this coming month and adding heat pumps to air/air heat exchangers will be part of the discussion. Controlling humidity generated in a passive home is one of the areas you should understand.
Think small and add your mansion later as cost "they are a changing"! Live in one end and make your "closet" later.
Smile, and whistle while you plant your garden soon.

The only "breakthrough" that's in the pipe line now is with Nanosolar. Nano is claiming to drop the cost of PV to $ 1 watt, that's about a quarter of what the crystaliline panels cost. The only problem with thin film (Nano's) is that they'll require much more sq./ft per watt. Hopefully something changes to make PV more practical and economical.

Once you get an idea of how many kwH you're looking to fulfill, I can give you a rough idea of which modules would work, their approximate cost as well as how much the installers will be charging per watt to do all the work.

I'm not an installer myself, but we supply installers, contractors and retail clients with renewable energy solutions.

gotta give the guy props for either promoting or referring a business lol

Thanks for the props, I appreciate that.

Where exactly in santa monica is the home James K? i live in the area as well and would love to check it out.

'James' is spending all of his time spamming as many topics/forums here as he can.

He doesn't have time to respond at the moment. 

I haven't received a pm, but seriously would love to check it out as I'm in the area.

feel free to email at john at solarblvd dot com