Taxable and Non-taxable Allowances. Iâve noticed some questions on Yahoo answers about which allowances are taxable and which are not. At the current time, the only taxable allowance is CONUS COLA, the Cost of Living Allowance paid to people who living in certain expensive parts of the continental United States. By federal law, all new allowances created after 1986 will be taxable.
Solar shingles vs. solar panels. Many homeowners are curious about the difference between solar shingles and traditional solar panels. Solar roof shingles use the same technology as PV panels, and are the same size and shape as a typical asphalt shingle. As with solar panels, solar shingles are paired with inverters and connected to the grid.
As a general rule, 100 square feet of solar panels will generate 1 kilowatt (kW) of electricityâbut only when the sun is high and perpendicular to the panels. The amount of power generated by a solar system at a particular site depends on how much of the sun's energy reaches it. Most residential solar electric systems require between 50 square feet (for small starter systems) and 1,000 square feet. Commercial systems may require even more surface area or rooftop space.