Would you put solar panels on your home? and why?

Question

solar panels!!

they are fantastic! cause they are the new way of "charging" your home, without killing the earth!

would you install them, or not? and make sure you say WHY

Answer 1

I would because it will help me consume less energy and it will not have any effect on our planet earth. AlsoThere is no waste involved like you would get with fossil fuels, and no pollution to expel into our atmosphere.

In the middle of winter we would normally be using enormous amounts of fossil fuel, proving very costly. Residential solar power does not give us this problem. This will help our planet alot

Answer 2

yes I would.  primarily cause I'm cheap and they would save me money (which is also the reason I haven't done it - they are so dang expensive to start with).

Answer 3

yes because it is good for the earth

Answer 4

i would. ive read if you make enough energy the power company sends you a check every month cause they start using your power. but it is costly so i can't afford it.

Answer 5

Why:

1) It's a great technology.

2) It has low impact to the environment.

Why Not:

1) Initial cost is substantial.

2) solar panel technology is greatly improving. I would hold out for a few more years when you can actually use it as a sustainable source and as a replacement source and not so much a suplimentary source.

Answer 6

If your house was not built to include solar panels, it may encounter problems that most people do not consider. For example, your neighbor may plant trees nearby and they could shade your panels. Your house may not have good alignment with the sun, so your net hours of sunshine may be too small. If your local planning folks allow panels and your house is oriented properly to the sun and no trees will block the sun, I suspect it will be a good investment long term. Still the up front cost is high.

I feel that common folk like myself would be better served if we could buy shares in our local power company by purchasing a number of panels ... offered and installed by them ... and that we would then get a net monitoring of both our own electrical use and a reduction on our electric bill for the portion of our investment. That way, it seems we could each make a small investment in solar and add to that investment as we earn more money ... and essentially eliminate the need for new centralized power plants.  

How many malls does your city have that are completely empty and could be returned to the community as a mini power plant site. My city is loaded with malls that nobody uses anymore. Businesses move and and fail because nobody goes there. They go to the new more s**y malls. Several of these outdated malls have power lines running directly through their empty parking lots. Why not have community solar investments in these sites? Every building could include solar panels and the entire parking lot could be covered with panels. The inside of the building could still be used for other routine purposes.  The local power company would be the perfect organizer and maintainer.

This way "solar" would not be so expensive. The cost would be shared by many and so would the rewards.

Answer 7

They are not cost effective at this point, so, no, I wouldn't.  These things have to be manufactured, installed and maintained.  This requires resources.  They are not as "clean" as you seem to think.

Answer 8

I believe the best economy comes out when a completely "green" house is built. Solar panels are expensive, and I'll rather use some of the investments to build different back-up systems, instead of bying solar panels for it all. If I build another house, my "fancy stuff" would be the "green stuff". The house will have a water radiator heating system and a heat pump to circulate warm or cold air in the house. Heat pump also used to heat water for heating system. I'll use solar panels to make enough electric power 1. charging a deep cycle battery pack for back up power, 2. to power heat pump, fridges., freezers, and water pumps, when I'm not home at the house.

When I'm home I'll run a bio-fueled(bio-waste and pellets or firewood) powered steam engine  with a 10KW 110-220V generator when I need electric stove and oven, dishwasher and laundry appliances. I'll use a wood stove, BBQ and oven on the porch for summer cooking. I'll use excessive heat from steam engine for heating water tank. I'll also have an bio-fueled (waste and pellets or firewood)  water heater for winter heating back-up. Of course I'll make sure I'm connected to the electric grid, so I can get credit from power company for the excessive electricity that will occasionally come out from solar panels. Steam engine can be replaced by diesel powered 10KW generator, if it's possible to fuel it with veg-oil home made diesel fuel. Depends whats most accessible at my living site.

Answer 9

Only if they can pay for themselves via energy cost savings.  To date, no system can do this.