By Janet Small, Staff Writer
As we all know the race is on to find a new source of harnessing energy. With the scarce resources from fossil fuels and continuing rising prices for electricity, home heating and gas prices the holy grail for many companies is to find a natural resource to produce energy cheaply and efficiently, without damaging the environment.
Solar Power is one of the key players in this market. Harnessing energy from the sun is not a new concept; in fact it was in the 1970s when major public interest began in using solar cells to produce electricity. In the 1980s the first solar cell with modest efficiency was produced and since then many buildings began adopting solar panel roofs, such as the Intercultural Center of Georgetown University. Since then solar panels have been further developed by many research centers doubling and then tripling their efficiency and making them a more viable method of producing clean energy.
Solar panels have been advocated by many influential people in the world. The White House installed solar systems on grounds keeping building back in 2003, and in 2013 President Barack Obama ordered solar panels to be installed at the White House itself. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed the Solar Roofs Initiative for one million solar roofs in California by 2017. The Vatican also announced in 2007 that in order to conserve Earth’s resources that they would be installing solar panels on some of their buildings in a project that would pay for itself after a few years.
One of the main reasons that Solar Power has been advocated is due to its status as a ‘clean energy’ and ‘eco-friendly’. However in order to manufacture solar panels resources are required which produce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, but it has been proven in numerous studies that solar panel production releases nowhere near as much CO2 as electric generated from coal, oil and natural gas etc. In fact solar power on average produces about 20 to 30 times less CO2 and other greenhouse gases than energy from coal, making it highly advantageous, especially in the midst of a global warming crisis.
But what does Solar Power mean for the everyday person? Is it a feasible source of energy for middle class families or is it something that is reserved for wealthy individuals? The total average cost for installing the most common solar panels on a residential home ranges from $14,000 to $18,000. This is a substantial investment for any homeowner, and many people may disregard solar power as too expensive. However there are rebates available from the state as an incentive for homeowners to install solar panels; here the Florida Public Service Commission is offering rebates of $1,000 for every new residential solar water heater. When considering installing solar panels, it is important to look at it is a long term investment and not as a quick fix to lowering bills. A solar water heater can cut a family’s water heating costs by up to 85 percent according to the Florida Solar Energy Center, but on average it takes 21 years to recoup investment.
One attitude against solar panels is that they can be an eyesore and make homes less aesthetically pleasing, however if the right solar panel is chosen it can blend into the roof with the house, and not detract from the appearance. Solar panels will also improve the value of your home, if the house was put on the market for sale. A study carried out in California showed that between 2000 and 2009 houses with solar power increased in value by around $17,000. There are also many considerations when installing solar panels. Solar panels may be a very lucrative source of energy in Florida where there is on average around 250 days with sun per year, but would the investment be wise in other areas of the US such as Southeast Alaska which has on average around 90 days with sun per year? There are also many other variables such as the angle of the roof, which way the sun rises and sets on the house and local laws and restrictions on home renovations.
It is also important to remember that solar power is not the only renewable energy resource, and depending on which area of the world you live in might determine which type of energy resource is best for you. Some examples of other natural energy resources which can be harnessed are wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat.
All in all solar panels are definitely a smart way to take advantage of natural resources, and if you are lucky enough to live in a sunny area of the world a good way to make a wise investment that eventually will begin to save you lots of money in utility bills. As long as you are aware of the amount of time working out logistics and money you will be investing, and still believe it works for you then Solar Power is a clean efficient way to produce energy and help the environment.
