Monday, April 12, 2010 at 12:55:00 PM - by Nate Lew
Misconceptions are rampant. Politicians have a big stake in your confusion. What you think you know can hurt you.
It’s hard to argue the fact that reducing our dependence on fossil fuel will benefit everyone and that the economy will benefit as well by our conversion to solar or wind energy.
Now is a very exciting time for the solar industry and rebates make solar energy a no-brainer. It’s a revolution a long time in the making and seriously overdue. The financial return far exceeds what one would imagine and if we -as a country - take full advantage of the technology, we will have made a more sustainable future for generations to come.
While the number of solar panels being installed in homes across the world is increasing, so is the number of misconceptions regarding them. Listed below are some of the more common examples…don’t be fooled by them!
Misconception #1: Converting to Solar Energy Means Sacrificing Modern Conveniences
Nothing could be farther from the truth! Solar energy can provide electricity to run household items (such as your computer, TV, stereo), pump your water, power your major appliances, supply you with internet and wash your clothes. It powers up your tools and provides you with light. Home and business owners can use solar power to improve the power they get from the electric company or install an entire system to supply all their needs. So who’s behind this misconception? Let’s face it…the big utility companies have a vested interest in keeping this kind of information under wraps.
Misconception #2: Wind Turbines Kill Birds
The truth is that studies regarding this topic have concluded that these industrial turbines kill less than two per each per year. Given that home-sized turbines are much smaller, the number is thought to be even too small to research. The ever-rising price of oil has heightened the interest in wind power, so why isn’t more being done to promote its use? Regulations, safety concerns, and bureaucratic red tape are slowing the implementation of wind power strategies. The fact is that the amount of wind power available right now in the atmosphere is greater than the world’s current energy consumption. Statistics show that if by 2020, the U.S. is getting 20% of its electricity via wind power, global warming emissions will be reduced equivalent to removing 70 million cars from the road or planting over 100 million acres of trees.
Misconception #3: Solar Energy is Too Expensive
What’s expensive are power plants…and we all know who absorbs the majority of those costs! In reality, it’s less expensive to install a solar system than to connect to the grid if you are more than 500 yards from the connection. If we got wiser about our energy usage, the money we’d save would pay for our transition to a solar-based energy system. Each year our country continues to spend more on research for conventional energy s than on renewable ones.
Misconception #4: Solar Energy Systems Require a Backup Energy Source
Talk to anyone who knows about – or uses – solar power and you will find that this is not the case. It’s reported by homeowners who have used solar energy systems for over 10 years that it provided 100% of their electrical needs. While most solar heating systems are designed to have a conventional backup system, it really isn’t necessary.
Misconception #5: Solar Panels Will Last Forever
Just like anything else, with solar panels there are different levels of quality. Some are more efficient, some last longer and some are a waste of money. Panels that cost more will last longer, but the average solar panel should last for about 25 years. Considering that they’ll pay for themselves in much less time than that, it’s seen by most as a worthwhile investment.
Misconception #6: It Takes More Energy to produce PV’s Than They Can Ever Produce
According to recent studies, today’s solar electric modules provide an energy-based payback of 2 – 4 years. PV panels, which come with a 25-year warranty, can provide power for 50 years. If you do the math, you’ll realize that PV panels can create 10 times the energy required to make them.
Misconception #7: Solar Energy Systems Are an Eyesore On Your Home
Some of the earlier solar energy equipment may appear a bit large and unsightly, but with the proper planning, you can make the panels look like they’ve been there since the house was designed and built. The newer panels have layers of overlapping cells, which create a powerful power-producing source and extensive research continues into the efficiency of solar panels well into the future.
One such innovation in solar technology that has home and business owners excited is the use of shingles that are actually adapted photovoltaic cells made into roof shingles. They are normally black in color and blend in beautifully with the look of your home.
In closing, consider this…solar energy is abundant and if we can save 75 – 90% of the energy we use, we could use that money to transition to a renewable-based economy. A project like this could provide decades of employment, increased national security and a way to invigorate some of our rural economies.
People everywhere are opting for a greener lifestyle, and in time the reduction in utility bills will make the investment of a solar energy system pay for itself. Our economy will improve as a result of our conversion to wind or solar energy. If home and business owners received help from the government in the initial expense of the transition, more people would be excited to jump on the “green” bandwagon.
