[pt49]

Originally Posted by Roguegal

It makes no difference if it's a purchase for a lease arrangement. There are too many people in the United States and possibly around the world that would never be able to afford it because they are on a limited income. My income is only $940 a month. I can barely pay my rent and utilities and then groceries. How in this world would I be able to afford to either purchase or lease a solar panel system when I can't even afford a car. That is the point I am trying to make. It is not cheap enough for the poor of the world to afford.

What if it was cheap enough? Do you realize that home electicity costs are predicted to rise by as much as 50% in the next 12 months?

You need a second job, or need to learn to use the Internet to generate some income. Think outside the box. Stop being or thinking like a victim.

[Roguegal]

If it were cheap enough, yes, I would have it. And I do work part-time from home, which is the only way I can work per my doctor, to earn extra income. Do you even know what the poverty level for income is in the United States? Check it out! And I am not thinking or being a victim. I am only speaking fact of life. You see, I have myasthenia gravis and the condition does not work well with stressful situations. I would love to be able to have my own business, but the stress would probably kill me. I am doing my best to handle stress. Maybe, one day I will be able to handle it well enough to have my own business. That would be absolutely fantastic! Then I would not have any financial worries. That is my goal.

[sam1900]

Solar energy is the only unlimited source of energy in nature. But we are not utilizing it properly. We should find some new or cost effective techniques like home solar power to replace the current or outdated techniques.

=========================
Sam
Going Green Blog. Earth friendly tips and information

[chris1203]

If every house needs to have a roof, why allow non-reflective black material (your typical shingle roofs) to cover it (which leads to global warming) when as an opportunity cost states could legislate that solar roofing be made mandatory? This would reduce energy needs, help power the grid (especially on those hot sunny days when power is most needed) and use absorbed solar energy to produce electricity rather than heat up attics and the surrounding environment

That's is a really great idea! It would be taking care of two different problems--global warming and energy costs--at the same time.

[Tommy2009]

This is interesting topic and gave many good post. It is very useful and informative.

[koala]

Originally Posted by chris1203

That's is a really great idea! It would be taking care of two different problems--global warming and energy costs--at the same time.

Sure, it's a really great idea, but is anyone doing anything about it? I'm sure noone here is calling up their local solar panel installation company and saying sign me up today! There's just not enough incentive because of the high costs. We can't just sit around waiting for the government to give out incentives though. That is a cop-out way to implement a new technology that isn't - really - market ready.

What it will take is innovators and early adopters to buy solar panels now, even though they won't see payoffs for several years. They buy them because they support the technology, want to save the planet, or are just thinking long-term about their energy usage. These people/companies have money and/or influence and without their support the solar panel productiom companies would go nowhere.

Solar panel producers need money to survive and develop new, cheaper technologies that have a chance of making it into the mainstream market.

The only feasible plan I have heard so far is renting/leasing the solar panels rather than selling them outright. This has the possibility of working because:

1. Solar panel companies get large upfront purchases from loaner
2. Loaner makes money incrementally from loan payments
3. Homeowners benefit because they save money, if the loan payment is low enough that their new energy bills (utilities + loan payments) are lower than their old utility bills by any amount

Only a profitable market is a sustainable market