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Solar is getting cheap: costs state by state - Yahoo! Finance (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Solar-is-getting-cheap-costs-apf-3572489163.html?x=0&.v=2 - broken link)
Thinking solar power? It's never been cheaper - Yahoo! Finance (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Thinking-solar-power-Its-apf-2489445962.html?x=0&.v=1 - broken link)
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Tax credits destroyed the solar industry during the Carter yrs. The 'marketeers' (talking sleeze bags) re-entered the industry again a couple yrs ago, and it has gone to the dogs. It was great to talk and work with the quality industry experts BEFORE the credits came back.
Tax credits destroyed the solar industry during the Carter yrs. The 'marketeers' (talking sleeze bags) re-entered the industry again a couple yrs ago, and it has gone to the dogs. It was great to talk and work with the quality industry experts BEFORE the credits came back.
Solar is still to expensive and not for the technically inept. It is a good technology for industrial users and scientists, but is way too pricey for general use. Local building codes and zoning laws can make the installation of solar panels all but impossible. Unreliability of sunshine coupled with simple weathering and dirt adds to the headaches. If power storage is needed batteries will be used and replaced on a regular basis, increasing energy input and possible pollution. Solar thermal has been used for over a century for heating and it is inexpensive and reliable. However, solar photovoltaic costs a lot more and is half as efficient. I would rather use my roof as a hydroponic garden and eat my solar energy. Gasification of waste or even wind power are good alternatives. Personally I would prefer home nuclear power which is much better than solar.
Solar is still to expensive and not for the technically inept. It is a good technology for industrial users and scientists, but is way too pricey for general use. Local building codes and zoning laws can make the installation of solar panels all but impossible. Unreliability of sunshine coupled with simple weathering and dirt adds to the headaches. If power storage is needed batteries will be used and replaced on a regular basis, increasing energy input and possible pollution. Solar thermal has been used for over a century for heating and it is inexpensive and reliable. However, solar photovoltaic costs a lot more and is half as efficient. I would rather use my roof as a hydroponic garden and eat my solar energy. Gasification of waste or even wind power are good alternatives. Personally I would prefer home nuclear power which is much better than solar.
I agree, I think its still way to expensive and not high enough efficiency... however the other problems I think is probably easily fixed... sure grime can build up on the solar panels but if you are building intelligently (probably not good for already built homes), you can clean it easily... I also disagree on batteries... is it great? not really but its getting there and it doesn't need to be replaced that "often" albeit it is pretty toxic to make and dispose of perhaps someone will discover an alternate method of energy storage that is more efficient... For now, its still developing and the reason its taken so long is special interest (utility companies) are trying to kill it and not enough incentive to develop it... I disagree with nuclear power... you have to hire janitors, techs, blah blah blah, you have nuclear waste... you have to buy expensive radioactive materials... I would say its better financially for the family to go with solar than nuclear...
I heard that those solar panels are getting to be the thing to be stolen now.
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