4% of the home cost, 10% of the roof area.

There are no longer any hurdles preventing the wide adoption of solar power.  Why?  Because of these two facts.

1.  Cost:  The panels on my home are 4% of the value of the home.  4% and you never have to pay an electricity bill again.  It's a no-brainer.  It's especially a no-brainer to install solar when constructing the home, as it's even cheaper then.

2. Area:  The panels on my home cover about 10% of the area of the roof and they provide more than enough energy.  Even if your appliances aren't as efficient, or if you live in less sunny areas, you should still be able to power your home with panels covering only a fraction of your home.

So here's how to do it.

First:  Change your mindset/habits just a bit to significantly reduce your energy use.  Wear a sweater in the winter, and shorts in the summer.  This way, you don't have to heat your home quite as much in the winter or cool your home as much in the summer.  In moderate climates, this causes a dramatic decrease in energy use (most days you won't need to do either).  This costs zero dollars and zero time.

Second:  Make your home more efficient.  Identify the worst problems (single pane windows with aluminum frames, for example) and get them fixed.  Switch out your old lights for LEDs - they're very efficient and you'll never have to worry about a burned-out bulb again. Make sure attic insulation is sufficient and seal up any drafts in the home.  And any time you buy a new appliance (refrigerator, air conditioner, etc.) make sure it's very efficient.  It will pay off in the long run.  This costs a moderate amount of money.

Final Step:  If you've done the two steps above, you won't need as many solar panels, so that will save you a LOT of money.  Now go get panels.  Get estimates from several vendors, and consider both purchasing or leasing the system.  If you're leasing, this may not cost you any money at all.  So it's a pretty obvious thing to do.  

Now make some phone calls.