PV Gap

Penny Said:

Do you, or anyone you know, have a 'renewable technology' installed in your home?

We Answered:

Was interested some years ago but lived in a conservation area in Surrey
I fitted solar panels to heat a swimming pool quite successfully.Fitted them as a screen round 2 sides
When I tried to fit them on the roof all hell broke loose from the planners Appears that I virtually had to go to them to put a damned dog kennel in my garden
They allowed the pool panels for leisure but as for the roof , that was sacrilege
Sold house 2 1/2 yrs ago just before recession & the panels were a feature of the sale & I didn`t lose out on the sale
Now live near Scottish border but with our weather up here it would not be an economical proposition with or without govt subsidy

Leona Said:

cost of building 20' x 20' home? Please Help?

We Answered:

$48,000

Sally Said:

please fix my grammar , thank you!?

We Answered:

Green Roofs or Solar Roofs ?

Do you want to contribute to our earth but don't know how? Global warming and the urban heat island effect are making inroads into our homes. This is a serious issue, and we must also have a positive attitude toward mediating this situation.
Suppose that you are not a boss of an enterprise; therefore, you are powerless to decide how to reduce air pollution nor recycle resources. Don’t be discouraged! You can still influence others and help preserve the earth by supporting the idea of green design. Green design is an international
idea that has been discussed for many years, and was promoted in the 1992 Leaders Summit Meeting in Brazil. It is called "ecological building" in Japan and "sustainable building" in Europe. Home green design is an affordable way to save energy. Two methods of saving energy are the green roof and a roof covered by solar panels. Though each of these two methods have their own advantages and drawbacks regarding expense, working conditions, and function, green roofs are a more effective way to save energy.

Expense is a very important thing taken into consideration when deciding between green roofs and solar panels. For a 100 sq foot roof, you need about $25,000 to install solar panels on your rooftop. The system works at least 25 years. However, maintenance of the solar panels will cost $1,000 per year, putting its worthiness into question. Its worthiness depends on your personal electricity usage. You would save a small amount of money if you are living with a big family, but a fact that should be taken into consideration is that the value of money between now and the future fluctuates. Otherwise, you still need to pay the upkeep of the system every year and the charge of basic power to keep it working. Green roofs are priced $1,500 for the same area without the need for maintenance. Then, all you need is a waterproof rooftop, a layer of soil, and a bag of seeds. The idea of Green Roof is much cheaper obviously and has lower maintenance costs than solar panels.

An additional factor to consider are the working conditions of each method. Before you choose one of them, you need to consider the weather in your area. Solar panels, as the name hints, is a system that needs sunlight to function. Green roofs need adequate rain to support growth as well as sunlight. Comparing the two systems' working requirements, solar panels need less than green roofs. Though solar panels still work on cloudy days, they will not maintain the same efficiency as they would on sunny days, though the amount of energy provided may be enough depending on your needs. Unfortunately, solar panels are not ideal for windy areas because they might be damaged by flying debris. Though the solar panels and green roofs are nearly equal in regards to working conditions, green roofs are slightly advantageous in that they are working 24 hours a day.

Lastly, solar panels and green roofs have slightly differing functions. In theory, solar panels basically reduce your energy consumption. What would be powered with solar electricity are the things such as the refrigerator, the computers, the TVs and the air
conditioning, etc. Sounds great, but solar panels efficiency averages only 20% to 40%. Solar panels absorb sunlight and convert its energy to a type of power we can use for electronics. The system loses much energy during the
conversion process, and will not be able to power appliances unless sufficient amounts of sunlight is absorbed. On the other hand, green roofs filter rain and air pollutants in addition to keeping the house warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Sometimes it can
even provide a habitat for birds and some small animals.

Choosing between solar panels and green roofs is a fascinating question. Though each system has its own benefits, green roofs are more advantageous to the average person. Solar panels are presently an underdeveloped technology especially concerning energy conversion and are more costly than green roofs. Protecting the environment is an important thing and we must work to solve the problems threatening it.

I was going to add a few notes here and there, but the answer was too long. Try to make an original title, and not say "I am going to..." because it's obvious. Also, if I changed the meanings of some parts (some parts were ambiguous), feel free to ignore the change.

Hope I helped.