Welcome back to "Homefront Montgomery"

If you are like most homeowners, you probably buy 100 percent of the energy you need to heat and light your home - from a utility company. Our first guest today is here to tell us how her family provides some of her home's energy needs - without the power company's help.

Susanne Broon'-hart Wiggins and her husband, Don, recently installed a number of photovoltaic panels on the roof of their home. The panels integrate solar energy into their home's existing energy sources.

Elaine Chen interviews Susanne about her home's new solar energy system.

Elaine?

Thank you for joining us, Susanne. Tell us what motivated you and your husband to add solar energy to your home.

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Your homeowners' association had to approve changes to your house. What happened when you told them that you want to put solar panels on your roof?

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What were they concerned about?

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How did you finally settle matters with the homeowners' association?

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What is this law called and where can homeowners find information about it?

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So now you were free to have the panels installed. How big a job was it - a day, a week, a month?

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Did they rip apart your roof?

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Besides the solar panels themselves, what other components had to be installed in your home?

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Some solar systems include a battery backup that stores electricity for use at night. Did you have a backup installed?

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Is it something you might add to your system down the road?

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How much did your solar panel system cost?

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Does the government provide any tax incentives for going solar - or any assistance in the form of rebates?

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What is the Maryland program called and where can viewers find information about it?

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What advice would you have for other homeowners considering adding solar photovoltaic panels to their homes?

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Susanne Brunhart-Wiggins, thank you very much for joining us today.

Thank you Elaine Chen. After our recent power outages, no doubt some of our viewers will consider solar energy for their homes as well.