Why Solar is Smart
Not everybody is satisfied about the benefits of solar. “One problem for the industry is that the grants are not consistent over time so demand for solar products is not steady and predictable,” said Matt Arner. Predictability level is what owners of solar homes want. Most feel safe knowing they will not have to worry about an energy source crisis or power outages while they soak in the rays. With the surplus energy during the day, house owners can sell it back to the utility corporation. “Net metering” is a term most solar house owners love to hear. “A grid connected PV system that generates more power than is being used on site can sell excess electricity back to the grid, or send the electricity to a battery storage system,” said Jan Gudell at the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources. In the daytime the power produced by the solar cells are given to the application. The meter will really go backwards, thus saving you money on your electrical bill. Massachusetts is one of 34 states that allow net metering. Most homes with solar panel installation do not run just from the sun. “Most home PV systems produce a % of the homes electricity use. Whatever this p.c is is equivalent to the amount of cost that’s defrayed,” claimed Ted Vansant. Solar has been about for a century, it was not till the energy crises of the 1970′s that congress passed the Geothermal Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act This act was the building block for the Solar Cooling and heating Demonstration Act, State Energy Act, and the Natural Gas Policy Act. These acts allowed uncountable billions of Fed bucks for research and development of solar power, raised the price of natural gas, and gave incentives to folks who bought alternative energy. President Clinton started the Million Solar Roofs Initiative in 1997 with an objective of one million solar units on the roofs of US people. The initiative works alongside the Fed., state and local central authorities along with other associations to build a stronger market for solar. According to their internet site, 2 hundred Megawatts of solar electricity can be given to the initiative, or two hundred thousand kilowatts. The Energy Information Administration foresees, “crude oil production is projected to extend from 4.6 million barrels per day in 2002 to 5.2 million barrels a day in 2008. Solar technologies are not expected to make important contributions to U.S. Grid-connected electricity supply thru 2025.” According to this solar electricity is not going to switch the world as yet. But oil companies are privy to the future in solar. Exxon is the second biggest producer of photovoltaic power cells in the world. The US Photovoltaic Industry outlined in “Roadmap through 2030 and Beyond”, to have solar supply 1/2 of all the US electricity generation by 2025. PV shipments grew 32% world wide in 2003 bring in $4.7 bln in cash. However , in 2003 shipments of solar electricity from the U.S. Dropped 10%. States like Japan and Germany have took a big number of clients from the US. The U.S. Used to provide all the products domestically but in 5 years they have lost 27% of the North American market. Today’s advanced technology gives scientists in each field scientists more opportunity to make solar energy more trusty. Currently NASA is studying whether a high voltage satellite with solar panels in space can beam solar electricity to earth. The idea was thought of in 1960 but the concept failed to go anywhere because technology was not what it is today. The panels would be in a position to capture 99% of the sun’s rays in a 24-hour day. The project is another twenty-five years off. So what can homeowners do now? What the governing body would like you to do is upgrade your house to make it more “green”. Energy star products reduce energy use. A suggestion is to modify the standard 60-watt light to a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb. Both bulbs give the same light but differ in watts. The fluorescent bulb will cost about $10 – $15 nonetheless it will last you ten years rather than the a regular bulbs a year. “In a home the average electricity bill is $1,400 each year and with Energy Star labeled products installed at home, one can save up to 30 percent per year,” declared El Hadji Sow, Assistant Programme Boss at Energy Star. The Energy Information Association asserts solar electricity consumption in the U. S. is less than 1%. Most home installations of solar energy are from individuals that are not looking to save cash but instead attempting to find another option of energy. “For me it’s a hobby,” said Stephen Congdon. “I do not have a sail boat in Maine. This is my past-time. I’m not making money on this thing. But you enjoy the hell out of yourself.”http://www.solarpanelinstallationtoday.com