SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - The sun, we play in it, some of us bask in it, we watch it set. Here in Florida, it's our most revered tourist attraction. It's also a largely untapped source of renewable energy.

"We've really got to wake up to what we're doing," says Carol Newcomb-Jones, an Environmentalist.

The sun is essentially free fuel. Right now half of your electricity bill goes to the cost of fuel. That's not the case for Carol and her husband Dell Jones. Parents of three, the couple of has used solar energy to help power their home for the last four years. "What I like about it is the benefit to the environment and our future generations."

Dell has spent 30 years in the solar business. The Jones' use a solar system to help power their home.

"It's used in the house to run pretty much anything from the stove, swimming pool, etc."

It helps them save energy and money.

"The highest it's been is about $70 dollars."

That's the highest their power bill gets in the summer, and in the winter... "It's actually been zero."

But getting others to catch up with the Jones' is not simple for a couple of reasons. One solar systems are expensive. It can run anywhere from $40,000 to $55,000 depending on the size of your home.

Rebates from the government (state and federal) can cut the cost in half, but right now 1,500 people are on the rebate waiting list and it's unclear when those rebates will be available.

A solar system will add value to your home, but the payback takes a while, 10 to 13 years.

This is an added bonus, when you produce more energy than your house uses. The extra energy is sold back to the power company.

By purchasing a solar water heater, you'll see the return sooner.

Winston Shepard with Advance Solar out of Naples says, "That piece of equipment (solar water heater) right there will save you $15,000 over the next 20 years with a household of four."

The cost is around $4,500. With rebates and credits you'll pay about half that. Again, there's a waiting list. But Shepard says you should be able to use a solar water heater for 15 to 20 years before replacing it.

Solar pool heating is really popular in the U.S. right now. The cost ranges from $3,000 to $4,000.

"In the long run the payoff is going to be you don't pay for fuel," says Mel Kline with Florida Power and Light.

Kline believes solar technology is becoming increasingly important in our state.

FPL just opened a solar array in Sarasota, it's basically a huge grid that produces electricity you might be using right now.

"You are going to see more and more systems like the one today across the state," says Kline.

Which means more and more of us will be using solar energy, whether we buy into it or not.

"People really need to consider their own environmental footprint and their own carbon footprint and how they are affecting the climate."

Winston Shepard with Advance Solar says one of the main questions he gets is what happens if there's a bad storm or a hurricane?

Solar panels, whether used for electricity or a solar water heater, are bolted to the roof. Shepard says unless the roof is torn off, the panels aren't coming off.

A couple of other notes, if your home is surrounded by trees, shading your house, solar anything may not be a good option. However with that said, shade is different than clouds. Even if it's a cloudy day and you have a solar system or water heater, there still energy available. That's because the sun's rays radiate through the clouds.


Calculate your carbon footprint:
www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

Energy Info
www.energy.gov/

Solar Rebate Information
www.dep.state.fl.us/energy/energyact/solar.htm