Are solar panels a good idea in the first place?

Question

I'm from Sudbury and I want to know if putting solar panels up in the schools is such a good idea. Consider that there isn't much sun around here it's mostly snow, snow, snow... so they will only work in the summer, spring, and maybe the fall... only if your lucky.... I'm hopeing you people have my answer. It's really important! Thanx

Answer 1

solar panels are very limited as to how much they can produce.  However, if it is windy there, a small windmill would be best.  If it were one of mine, it would power the entire city.

Answer 2

How much light you have is what matters and the colder the better.

You get more power from solar panels when the sun shines on the snow and reflects on to the panles. So you get two suns so to speak being you get the light from the sun and then the reflected light from the snow. Then being it is cold you don't have heat loss which could give you a third more power. The days are shorter in the winter time but I still get about as much power production from my panels winter and summer.

There are lots of miss informed or judgements by people that have no idea of what they are talking about ..

Remember this statement from above "extreme start-up costs associated with solar panels". I am willing to guess that person will not buy a home because of the extreme start-up cost associated with the down payment of buying a home. The norm is 20% down on a home so $20,000 down on a $100,000 home right? That much would pay off your solar power system. Most people can get the loan without any money out of their pockets if they own a home.

So nothing down means there is no extreme cost at all. Even cheaper then buying a home.

It is a great idea if you ask me.

Wow that is pretty extreme

Answer 3

sounds like you need geo-thermal

Answer 4

Solar energy can be a good idea, however it is fully dependent on where you live and your exposure to the sun. But be assured, even if is not sunny outside it will still be daylight, therefore a more power full solar panel can get energy from the sun.

Also remember that almost all energy comes from the sun either directly or non directly, coal for example was one a plant that got its energy from the sun, wind is caused by different heating levels of the earth ; and so solar power as a source of energy can not be seen as anything but positive.

You must of course weigh the cost with a high pay back period, however this is not such an issue when you consider that solar power is both carbon neutral and free.

To conclude, solar energy is a positive source of electricity and can not be seen as anything but that; and if we keep burning fossil fuels as we do global warming will mean that you have less snow and more exposure to the sun, and that in its self only strengthens the argument for solar power.

Answer 5

it doesnt matter if there is snow or not, they would be rasied to catch the sunlight

electricity prices are highest in mid-day, when school is functioning and it would cut costs immensly

Answer 6

I'm not sure what you mean by "a good idea."

Will it pay for itself in ten years?  Almost certainly not.   Most commerical solar systems take many years to pay for themselves.

Is it good for the environment?  Or at least better than fossil fuels?  Yes.   No greenhouse gas emissions.   No emissions at all, in fact.

Does it support the educational mission of schools?  Perhaps.  It's a good way to demonstrate and teach about solar energy.

Without a better understanding of what your goals are, though, it's difficult to know how "good" it is.

Answer 7

yes because it saves electric

Answer 8

The technology which makes them up is fantastic, however, the extreme start-up costs associated with solar panels make this form of electricity quite impractical.

Answer 9

Sun would help.  The problem is if the state gives rebates for buying solar panels.  Articles have been promising $2.00 per watt panels for over 3 years now.  They still remain over $5.00 per watt.  Why, I think it's because states like Florida which is offering $4.00 per watt rebates and California which is offering $2.20 per watt rebates on solar panels.  Why would a manufactorer sell panels for less when they can sell solar panels at higher prices because consumers are getting rebates from the state.  If you can get solars panels at $2.00 a watt they would pay for themselves in less than 10 years and last for over 25 years.  It could take 10,000 watts in solar panels to push enough out to the grid so that you could draw it back in at night to break even on consumption.  That's if your state forces net metering so you can use the power companys grid as your battery.  Were talking a $20,000 investment compared to a $50,000+ investment.