NeilPearson

It's not just start ups that are using solar. Lots of large electric companies are making large 100 MWatt solar plants... and as the technology gets better, these plants will become more affordable and take up less space.

So maybe solar will help the large energy companies too... if they can somehow keep the technology out of consumers hands.

BoneCrusher

LOL ... it will be another puppet pulled by the same strings. With all the posturing and posing done by the Clintons, there were no changes in the way we move relative to AFS that came out of their watch ... no massive or even minimal changes to AFS research or deployment of AFS technology at the consumer levels. BushCo is more than just George Bush.

NeilPearson

Maybe but my predictions are based on the current rates of research and deployment. At the current rates I'm thinking 20-25 years. If it wasn't for Bushco, it would have been 10-20 years ago... so they effectively delayed it for 30-50 years. That is quite an accomplishment and longer than the dark ages were if you look at both scenarios relative to the advancement rates they took place in.

maniclion

Well the solar systems that Jimmy Carter put on the Whitehouse and then Reagan later ripped off, were planned to be reinstalled during Clinton's administration...it just so happens it wasn't gotten around to until Bush had made it to office....

And I agree we can barely get shit done with Bush in office in respect to AFS', but the Germans and Japanese are putting the shit up faster than it can be manufactured. My Boss has 2 books on Building integrated PV and one is from Japan and one from Germany, their architects have all begun to design buildings with solar modules somehow involved in the structure....We're talking awesome designs, patio sections covered with solar modules with tinted backing so that some sunlight goes through, office buildings with a window and then a solar module all the way across the southern face which of course only works in places further north of the equator, even building with solar modules as eaves above windows to not only provide power but to act as shades to keep the cooling costs down....this stuff works everywhere for them and America would do just as well to integrate it themselves...

BoneCrusher

My next house built will be earning me money on energy production. What sucks though is that I like to cook with gas better than electricity. I like money more though and the thought of them paying me for the energy I send out gives me a chuby.

NeilPearson

Are you sure? I looked into what it would cost for solar to cover my energy needs...

http://www.americanpv.com/pdf/res_on/prices.pdf

last year we used 30k kWh. Their largest system covers 985 square feet and only offers < 16kWh per year.... so to completely cover my energy usage, I would need 2 of their largest systems which would cost $50k after rebates.

I think this is the real reason solar hasn't taken off yet. I'll give if a few years for the efficiency of these cells to get better before I look into it again.

Even the $7500 system... that would only cut off 1/6 of my bill. I am just not interest in a system that is going to take 12 years to pay for itself. Especially when I will probably move within 5 years.

My washer, dryer, stove and water heater are all gas.

BoneCrusher

Energy efficiency standards are set way too low in the US IMHO. A house built to normal industry standards isn't the same as a house built to green standards. I'll go solar water as well, so the demand will be very different than a what a conventional house would place on electric supply.
It's already getting done by some folks, so I'll manage

It'll be another four or five years before I build a anything. This guy I been talking to lately insists that I'll have more options soon and I really hope he is right.

NeilPearson

Yeah, if you are building a home from scratch, you definitely have more options than trying to apply solar to an existing home. The way you are doing it is much more manageable.

BoneCrusher

I'd run the project. I've got a lot of construction experience so I'd enjoy the process ... with the thought in mind that this is an investment. I'd look to sell inside of 4 to 6 years. The new owner would be in a great position, and I'd make a few dollars I'm sure.

Dub guy

What a moronic post!

DOMS

Okay dumb fuck, put up the ironclad proof that humans have affected the mean temperature of the planet.

BigDyl

Al Gore convinced me.

Total ownage.

NeilPearson

Lemmings...

DOMS

Dub guy

One of many great sources......go back to school Doms....your lost!

DOMS

It's "you're lost", you fucking moron.

So, humans are affecting the mean global temperature because you saw it in a movie?

goob

I'm telling you Doms......... time for the WLG signature again. It should be your epitaph.

BoneCrusher

"WLG" ...

DOMS

William Lloyd Garrison, "I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch and I will be heard!"

DOMS

It probably will.

I am, at all times, always me.

maniclion

If my calcs are right you use 82-83kWhs a day? With our Gridtie Pricing Excel sheet that system would be $150,000 and you would need (120) 175W solar modules measuring 64" x 32", (3) 6000W Sunny Boy inverters and the other base of systems parts....

Ummmmmm, I think you would be better off paying someone to come in and give your place an energy audit to find out what the hell is draining all that juice when you are using gas for the major energy hogs washer, dryer, stove and water heater. I don't know if you leave every light on in your house and there all 100W bulbs, you have 4 refrigerators or what. But we sell systems that large to businesses, and luckily businesses get much better rebates and tax credits for installing solar...

NeilPearson

A lot of it is due to the fact that I live in Arizona. 4 months of 110+ running 2 air conditioners draws a lot. Then when it gets in the 30s and 40s in the winter, I have to heat the house electrically.

And I have a fish tank with 850 Watts of lights on it for the coral. It also needs pumps to move 5000 gallons of water an hour. Coral needs water movement as close as the oceans as possible. The lights and pumps heat up the water so I have to run a chiller to keep the water down to 80 degrees

I installed 2 dedicated circuits for the fish tank.

maniclion

PV systems on the homes in the outer islands that are built to the "Green Standards" are way smaller than the homes here that are built to the "Cheapest Standards"...

maniclion