Comments on: Building Cheap Solar Panels - Make Power Don’t Buy It

By: darwin lied

darwin lied — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:25:59 +0000

they don’t work, you really need to do some reading be four you put out such nonsense. To have enough panels to run a house you would need a foot ball field size place. DO you have that? An average roof would not be enough to even run just the lights.
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By: cnsdubie

cnsdubie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:23:59 +0000

I am skeptical of our government in the US making things mandatory, because look at what they do to everything they stick their hands into? An inefficient mess.

I would favor instead offering dramatic tax breaks (perhaps especially on property taxes) for those who build "green." Not just the homeowner, either…the developer as well. Developers already have it within their power to create covenanted developments requiring green features. Make it attractive for them to do so, keep the bureaucracy’s hands out of it, and there’s a viable possibility.
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By: bohemian_garnet

bohemian_garnet — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:21:59 +0000

Actually Tom, I fully agree with you. The Government mandates things about house construction all the time. After all it is no longer legal to build a house without a toilet. Would people prefer that toilets were no longer manditory?

I have long thought, and said, that all new homes should have to have solar panels, or a wind turbine to produce a certain percentage of the house’s energy.

The percentage should go up for certain things too. If you live in an area where you cannot live without airconditioning, the wind/solar should have to produce ALL of the energy needs the A/C will use, plus a little extra for the house.

If you want luxory items, like swimming pools, or hot tubs, the wind/solar should have to produce ALL the power those items will use.

Once wind/solar starts to be installed on every new home, the price of those items will drop dramatically, and the technology will improve rapidly.

Yes, wind and solar turbines/panels will have to be repaired and updated from time to time. No doubt about that. However I’ve never met a house that didn’t need repairs, or updates as it aged. New roofs, better/more insulation, new windows, ect…the list goes on.

People continue to have children…they really need to think about what kind of world those children will be living in. Do they WANT them living in a landscape dotted with nuclear, and coal fired power plants?

Or would they rather see them living in houses that are generating all, or much of their electric, with totally clean and earth friendly alternatives?

Isn’t asthma already becoming a BIG problem in children?

What happened to good old American Pride in being able to take care of yourself? Living in a house that generates its own electric is a good way to reclaim some of the spirit of American Indepencance, and Pride!

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years
Who’s next house will be straw bale, owner built, and TOTALLY off grid! (As well as our shops, and barns!)
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By: blowfly

blowfly — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:19:59 +0000

That’s a real stupid ideal. You need to do more homework.
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By: Strawberry B*tchcake

Strawberry B*tchcake — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:17:59 +0000

this is just like saying "hey why doesnt the government make electric cars mandatory?" pipe dreams….put your energy into something you can change.
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By: Evita Rodham Clinton

Evita Rodham Clinton — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:15:59 +0000

Actually its not a bad idea, they could revise local building and zoning codes to require the water heater and light to run off solar. Local governments certainly don’t hesitate to change such codes on an annual basis as it is for non energy related issues.
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By: The Voice of Reason

The Voice of Reason — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:13:59 +0000

What part of free market and free society do you not understand? If solar panels were economically viable, everyone would have them.
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By: skippy

skippy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:11:59 +0000

I think it’s a great idea. I think our gov. should pursue the idea more aggressively. I also think they don’t because their "buddies" at the big oil company’s have them in their pockets.
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By: LMurray

LMurray — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:09:59 +0000

The price is to high! the systems fail. the though is good. mandatory? we need an energy policy that promotes clean energy/wind, solar PV, solar thermal, solar hot water, solar A/C and chillers, nukes, and taxes to the real price of oil, coal, beef....
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By: tom

tom — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:07:11 +0000

Why not make Solar Panels Mandatory?
The way i see it if every new house over 1000sq.ft. Puts a solar panel on there roof coal factories wouldn’t have to put out as much electricity. Then make all new commercial buildings over a certain sq.ft. be required to put solar panels on. The bigger the building, more solar panels. The government should make this technology cheaper and easier to buy. New buildings and houses can add it on there mortgage. etc. Just a thought. Please send replies I am thinking about calling my Representative.

The average system is 15-30 thousand dollars but that for a system to power your House all day and night. Of course you don’t create power at night but you electric company buys what you don’t use. I’m asking to put a 5kWh or smaller on all NEW houses Put the cost in you mortgage Should only add 1-5 thousand dollars.
A lot of people are saying it is a dumb idea or the government should have no say on how to build my house. The truth of the matter is that they already do say how you must build your house. There are federal housing codes, state, and local housing codes. Not to mention restrictions your devolopment requires. These codes and restrictions teel you the how to build some even tell you where and min. sq.ft. you must build . The government has an obligation to us to protect us and our children so they have every right to be involved. Yes solar panels would need to be replaced or upgraded over time. Im not saying its perfect but its a big start. It does not need to power the whole house either. For a 3 kwh, Environmental Benefit
Per year, this system will eliminate the production of

3,559 lbs ofCO2
2.5 lbs ofNOX
8 lbs ofSO4
This is equivalent to planting 1 acre of trees. For texas information from BP.com