Solar Home Tour

Take a quick peek at what Solar Energy can do for cutting down on energy cost while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• solar
• photovoltaic
• energy
• heating
• global
• warming
• yoursolarhome

[cutterstrong]

Expensive is a relative term, imagine if natural gas was to double or triple overnight in the next 5 years. Now that would be expensive.

[cutterstrong]

Your short sighted analysis is based on current petroleum based resource prices. We all know that petroleum based resources are being depleted faster than they are being replaced. When this system is payed for in 10 years and the gas, oil, and electrical prices have gone up by 300% then your not going to have a free penny to pay your own rent, let alone find anyone to rent your energy hog rental units.

[BigJoe2711]

Absolutely Awesome!!

We need this in the UK!

[nicr0s]

I know of systems that are 25 years old, and are still running on original panels. And thats in Canada where the climate is harsher!In Ontario, Canada the Standard Offer program pays 45c/kwh (we pay the utility around 5c) for solar and 11c for wind. Payback is sub 10yr.

PS - if you want to talk about something thats subsidized, look at oil and gas! the Govt pours BILLIONS into it! A LOT more then any renewable sector receives.

[nicr0s]

Bluesblake - the landscape is changing rapidly. If you happen to live in the states (CA, NY, ND, MO, OR, NC...) you have rebates available that can be equal to almost have the system cost in some cases. Combined with Standard Offer Contracts (where the utility pays you for excess energy) it can mean money in the bank over the long term.

Solar panels from any respected company come with a 20 to 25yr warranty and are insured against degradation if more then 5-8% or so.

[shwantz1]

In my opinion, the cost savings seems considerable. However, to play the devils advocate as "bluesblake" has....it does seem like an expensive investment.

The most important thing besides that is crystal clear! The world is not your garbage can. Sunlight is free. Doesnt emit ozone depleting carcinogens & smarter all the way around!

[coolddrdancer]

This is really great. There is a lot of new investment into solar technology and you can take part by investing a little money on solar stocks. FSLR, SPWR, XSNX, WWAT, and DSTI are some stocks that are pure photovoltaic solar panel plays that are worth supporting.

[bluesblake]

I am really interested in solar,wind and water power and would like to learn more. Please no personal attacks(cutter). This shouldnt be a subject of opinions but a subject of facts,science and statistics. Unless you live in a dirt hut in the woods and wear only cotton/wool or hemp. Use no plastic/metal/or processed goods of any kind. Then you are a member of the fossil fuel community.

[bluesblake]

The truth is that the argument started 40 years ago yet fossil fuel is still and will be for some time to come a much cheaper and more efficient alternative to Solar. As long as the Gov. has to subsidize something to make it work then it has a ways to go. Fuel has doubled in price every 10 years for the last 30 years. As solar gets more efficient and economical then the need for fossil fuels will drop, so will the price. When you get 100 amps of electricity out of a home solar system , it wins

[bluesblake]

Probably takes 10 years to recoup the cost difference. Solar panels start to deteriorate at 8-12 years.... Still doesnt beat, fossil. Not knocking green, but you could take the 20k it costs, buy another house and rent it out and make some real money.... P.s you can always get a wood stove and burn junkmail...