PV Gap

Howard Said:

Are windmills and solar panels good for anything other than school projects? ?

We Answered:

I have generated all the power for lights, electronics, fans, pumps, and other loads at my farm in Piedmont North Carolina now for almost five years, using solar photovoltaic panels, batteries, and inverters. The system has worked perfectly and saved me thousands of dollars on electricity, as well as keeping me independent of the grid in cases of power failure.

This was not a school project, but part of the construction of my house. I see a pretty good future in it, myself.

I am sorry about your bitterness, and I hope you feel better soon. Please take another look at the situation. Renewable energy works very well, thank you.

Stanley Said:

Does anyone have a story about their negative experience with Solar Energy?

We Answered:

My mother is a realestate agent. We do not know of a single home that used solar panels (became very populare in the 1970's) where the roof of the house or garage where they were mounted did not suffer major rot problems.

Water always eventually leaked around the mountings on the roofs. I do not believe most roofs are made to withstand the year in, year out stresses wind, and snow would cause by pushing, or pulling on solar panels.

I think the year in, year out stress from the weather eventually weakens and widens mounting holes, and allows water to get into ones roof, causing rott.

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, so a lot of rain there.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Fred Said:

Idea for my school project on alternative energy?

We Answered:

I would lean toward solar energy, because there are so many uses for it.

It's clean and cheap (or free) and in some places, if you produce more solar power than you need, you can sell the excess back to the power company!

Passive solar heating
Solar panels (photovoltaic) - "Active" solar heating
Solar Hot Water Heaters
Solar cookers
Solar lighting

The solar idea is already gaining popularity in 3rd world countries where people cannot access electricity the "standard" way.

Hope this helps!