Is Solar Energy cheap? I want to know if it is cheap for your home and for the economy?
Well, yes and no. Her's what I mean: The start up cost for solar energy is still high--you can figure on around $20000 give or take . In a growing number of areas and states, though, thee are tax credits, etc. that can cut that a good bit. Plus it adds to the value of a home--so it's an investment, more than jsut an expense. Also, the cost is falling--it has dropped by half since 2000 and is expected to drop by half again by the end of the next decade. BUT--the operating cost is VERY cheapp--all you pay for is just routine maintainance of the equipment. Figures I've seen show that the electricity you get costs only a few percent of what buying power from a local utility does.
Well, yes and no. Her's what I mean: The start up cost for solar energy is still high--you can figure on around $20000 give or take . In a growing number of areas and states, though, thee are tax credits, etc. that can cut that a good bit. Plus it adds to the value of a home--so it's an investment, more than jsut an expense. Also, the cost is falling--it has dropped by half since 2000 and is expected to drop by half again by the end of the next decade. BUT--the operating cost is VERY cheapp--all you pay for is just routine maintainance of the equipment. Figures I've seen show that the electricity you get costs only a few percent of what buying power from a local utility does.
Solar energy is free and practically limitless. After all the sun will continue to shine for 5 billion years. However making the silicon wafer solar cells to convert light into electricity is both taxing on the environment and very expensive for now. If you were to put solar cells on your roof, it would take 50 years or more to recover the costs through energy savings. So with the exception of very low powered electronics (i.e. calculators, radios, LED garden lighting etc) it is not economical to use solar cells today (unless the government subsides the cost). But this will soon change as manufacturing costs and techniques come down and efficiency goes up. Currently a solar cell converts something like 15% of the light to electricity - not very good.
Solar energy is free and practically limitless. After all the sun will continue to shine for 5 billion years. However making the silicon wafer solar cells to convert light into electricity is both taxing on the environment and very expensive for now. If you were to put solar cells on your roof, it would take 50 years or more to recover the costs through energy savings. So with the exception of very low powered electronics (i.e. calculators, radios, LED garden lighting etc) it is not economical to use solar cells today (unless the government subsides the cost). But this will soon change as manufacturing costs and techniques come down and efficiency goes up. Currently a solar cell converts something like 15% of the light to electricity - not very good.
