The world needs a new source of energy, an unspillable source.

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6 Responses

  1. Using solar to heat water is very cheap and cost efficient in areas that get enough sunshine.

    Solar panels for electricity have until now been the most expensive way of generating electricity. The panels are expensive, need maintenance and generally fail before their cost is recovered. It also requires wiring and storage devices which means using batteries.

    Therefore they do not recover their cost and produce problems when it comes to recycling the panels and batteries!

    That said the new technology now starting to come on stream is getting much more efficient and the panels are becoming cheaper to produce.

  2. I’m not sure…I would LOVE to be able to lower my electric bill with solar, but I’ve heard its not all that effective right now. Years ago I bought a house that had a solar water heater. I ended up putting a regular water heater in and taking the solar panel off the roof, and my electric bill actually went down. Hopefully, 25 yrs later solar has gotten better. I have no doubt though that some ingenious American will come up with some type of advancement to make solar more economical and efficient..I’m waiting…

  3. As long as Oil & Gas Companies have fuel to sell you, they don’t want you to go nuts with the idea.

  4. Because right now solar energy is dc current and normal household juice coming in is ac. That means you’d have to have both appliances, lights etc for 2 types of current. If you use total solar power you have to have a battery system capable of storing juice for long periods and say it rains for a week you might be out of juice . It’s expensive right now to outfit your house for solar energy. When it becomes affordable and dependable a lot will use it and purchase the means to convert dc to ac or otherwise.

  5. Solar hot water is a no-brainer in areas like Hawaii. The payback time is like 3 or 4 years over an electric water heater. My grand-uncle got a solar water heater installed in the 30’s, and it kept working into the 1970’s.

    Solar electricity is a much more recent thing. I think it got a bad reputation earlier because of amorphous thin film panels that wore out quickly, high cost, and the requirement of having a battery bank. These objections are not so strong today.

    Crystalline silicon panels have a long life expectancy. Some panels of this type from the 70’s are still seen to be operational today.

    Costs have dropped dramatically, though solar electricity is still somewhat more expensive than the grid in most places. Amortized over the life of the system, solar tends to cost 20 – 25 cents per kWh. If the electric rates for a house are above that, then solar can save money. If the house has a tiered rate structure, and (say) every kWh beyond the first 300 costs more than that, then it makes financial sense to displace that portion of the electricity with solar.

    The vast majority – probably 95% – of installations today are grid-tied; that is, they do not use batteries. The house continues to use grid power, but with solar as a supplement.

    We put solar panels on our house in 2006, and are very happy with them.

    Will this get our country off foreign oil? No, cars need a portable fuel, and electric cars still need a lot more work. Maybe someday.

Why don’t people believe the partial use of solar energy can be a useful alternative or addition to a home?

…Is it a true and good alternative? Is it just denial? Do they not want to change? Is it the initial cost? Does it need more time/study/research?
What could it do for our country’s future energy needs?
…I honestly want to hear your answers; please, no abusive or cynical answers…I really desire honest discussion.
…Thanks.