You know, I find that kind of humorous. I just got back from Germany in February where I saw a huge number of houses with solar arrays on their rooftops. I found out firsthand that they sell their excess regularly back to "the grid" to assist with other household expenses.
It is OUR GOVERNMENT that says "solar doesn't work", not technology.
I'm with you lil bugger, Solar IS an alternative. A real one indeed.
Now a days it takes almost 3/4 of a million dollars in the US to get the perfect array in your house and sell some back to the grid.
See, Larry Hagman's house, there is a documentary on it.
He actually invested closed to 1M for his array, and provides power for 5 other homes in his area. I think he said he pays 30 bucks a year for the meter rental.
We, (the little people) can just do our part and buy a solar panel for out water heater and for out outdoor lights cheaply... every little helps. BTW you know that the smart is GREEN!!!
You know, I find that kind of humorous. I just got back from Germany in February where I saw a huge number of houses with solar arrays on their rooftops. I found out firsthand that they sell their excess regularly back to "the grid" to assist with other household expenses.
It is OUR GOVERNMENT that says "solar doesn't work", not technology.
germany is unique because of the Renewable Energy laws they have there which provide gov't sanctioned incentives as well as gov't underwritten financing under the 100,000 roofs program. they force the old-skol untilities to fund the startup solar operators as part of a PR campaign to be the world's solar leader. it is as much a political stake in the ground as anything. the technology remains expensive and barely registers as a fraction of total energy production ** less than 0.5 percent. The government hopes to increase that figure to 3 percent by 2020.
i still stand by my statement, 0.5% of total energy production is not what i would call a "viable alternative" - it is at best a niche experiment. and this is from perhaps the most advanced solar country in the world.
I'm with you lil bugger, Solar IS an alternative. A real one indeed.
Now a days it takes almost 3/4 of a million dollars in the US to get the perfect array in your house and sell some back to the grid.
See, Larry Hagman's house, there is a documentary on it.
He actually invested closed to 1M for his array, and provides power for 5 other homes in his area. I think he said he pays 30 bucks a year for the meter rental.
We, (the little people) can just do our part and buy a solar panel for out water heater and for out outdoor lights cheaply... every little helps. BTW you know that the smart is GREEN!!!
I am surrounded by a dozen or so Germans, so I posed the question just now. There, it is still expensive, but the German government foots 30 - 40% of the cost to get started. Power is sold back to the grid daily. And the water systems will supply enough hot water in the winter months to heat the homes and still have enough left for the family to bathe.
Difference, Germany supports environmental consciousness, USA after J. Carter does not... period.
i am under the impression that while power may be sold back to the grid daily, it is also consumed from the grid nightly. at least, that has been my observation of household solar system in the new england area.
Some time ago when I still lived in Plymouth (MA) my neighbor wanted to install a small wind turbine. The state regulations were that the power company had to buy any excess power generated (wind, solar, hydro - whatever) that was offered. When my neighbor went to the town for the approvals he found that the power company was putting up the no-go front. They didn't want to be bothered with having to set up 2-way metering and accounting. The wind turbine never got built.
it probably wouldn't have anyway, even if the power company stepped up, the conservation commission would have filed a protest, or the historic commission would have filed a protest arguing it disrupted historic views, or the bird people would have filed protest that it endangered migrating species.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
lol.
Today
Linear Mode
