Solar Unattainable

[EternalSearch]

I recently had cause to look into the costs of solar panels-the ones that take the place of normal roof shingles. I was shocked, given the state of the current energy crisis, to learn that enough solar shingles to provide 60-80% of your energy needs would cost you some $65000. At current energy costs (and with still having to buy up to 40% of your power) if would take 30 years for them to pay for themselves! Its no wonder people can't yet do this.

[Serenity]

In the US, there are some tax credits and various rebate programs still but the cost remains pretty prohibitive, unfortunately. For many of us, that will hold us back until prices come down more. Fortunately, as technology improves and becomes more widespread it will drop down more.

[harmonythruchaos]

The worlds priorities are all wrong! We are living in a dieing world and no one truly seems to care. We pollute the air we breath, the water we drink and the very earth that feeds us. Mean while they fly rockets to mars, create techknowledgy that we never thought possible and they fail to recongnize the one thing that makes living possible. Some one tell me what these idiots are thinking! They speak of inhabiting other planets, What about this one, have we forgotten about earth the so called " miracle planet"? What if all this energy thats put into this nonsense was put to recreating the way we live here on earth? I know its all about money. power... and coperate greed but will that mean anything when its to late to make a change.
The world should invest greatly in solar, wind, and every other clean means of producing energy, so that our children and our childrens children will have a wonderful world to inherit, not a curse passed down from human ignorance. People are not totally at fault , yes, many of us could do a better job at helping the clean cause but it is the leaders of the free world who wallow in their ignorance and greed. But tell me when money means nothing because the earth can not produce what man needs to survive what will they do then? Moan and cry, then they will finally pray and beg for forgivness saying " what have we done but creat our own means to an end".
Look at what we have accomplished in 100 yrs, cars, planes, factories, nuclear bombs,. We have accomplished to pollute over 70% of the earths fresh water, we have contaminated the very soil that lies beneath our feet through the use of pesticides, non-organic waste and you name it. One may say we have changed the world for the better but a wise man would say "we have destroyed the very fabric of exsistence". The sad part is that we dont realize that everything that we do affects the delicate system life. Keep cutting down trees and man will suffacate from a lack of oxygen, keep polluting the air and diseases will follow , keep contaminating the earth and it will be unfertile. I can see beyond the horizon and the tide is coming, man will force nature until it rebels against all humanity. What I share with you is none other then a logical perspective of what is to come if a change is not made now! Believe it or choose to be blind by it , that is what most of the world does anyway.
The meaning of life is to cherish its blessing and live in the light of truth.
May he who is beyond all things judge those as they should be judged.
Bless those who live by the law of life,
who choose to seek out the light.
And have mercy on those who are blind to the truth.

[Cecelia]

I stumbled across a company that actually installs solar cells for nothing. I believe the offset is you do not get the money from any energy you sell back to the electric company or something like that, but I can't recall as I don't own my own home so it didn't do me much good.

And how can you put a price tag on saving the Earth? It may take 30 years to "pay itself off" but it will ensure the Earth is around for another thirty years to do so.

[Belgarath]

man will force nature until it rebels against all humanity

Is it not already beginning to do so? Climate change from global warming is a very real phenomenon whether people choose to believe it or not. Increasing power of storms where previously there was none, polar ice melting - disaster is looming if we don't take fast and drastic action.

how can you put a price tag on saving the Earth

The point isn't so much the payoff time but that most of us can't afford to spend that much at once. If I could afford to spend $65K, I would jump on it just to live more sustainably. Unfortunately it is beyond the means of many that would like to be able to do it.

[inspireme]

I would love to go solar, and wish I had the money to do it, but the truth is that I am living paycheck to paycheck and could not afford converting right now.