PV Gap

Irma Said:

What direction do solar panels usually point?

We Answered:

The general answer is toward the equator, so south when the array is north of the Tropic of Cancer, and north when south of the Tropic of Capricorn. In the equatorial zone, one would often still point towards the equator, but other factors such as wanting the panels to efficiently drain rain and dew come into play.

But wait, not so fast. Financial considerations dominate in some areas. When afternoon electricity costs more than morning electricity, it may pay to have panels oriented southwest in the northern hemisphere. Where electricity costs the same all day long, it may pay to orient the panels southeast, to harvest more in the morning, when temperatures are cooler, and the panels are more efficient.

For solar hot water, SW is usually optimal in the northern hemisphere, because of higher ambient temperatures, and also the usage pattern of most people using the hot water when they get home in the evening.

A local installer that has been around for several years will know what orientation is optimal for your area.

Andrea Said:

Why did Ronald Reagan rip out the solar panels Jimmy Carter installed on top of the White House?

We Answered:

The day the votes were tallied and we got the news that Reagan had won, the very first commentator asked him what his plan was to boost the economy.

He answered "I don't have a plan."

The commentator then stated " But Sir, when you campaigned you said you had a plan."

Reagan replied " Anybody that was running for President would say they had a plan whether or not they really did have a plan."

This told me right then and there that this man was a great Poster Boy for Opportunists everywhere.

I never believed another word that came out of his mouth, just like Bushie Boy Jr's.

Far too many Americans died from AIDS during his term of office, mostly because he denied there was such a disease, so absolutely no Fed. dollars were appropriated for AIDS/HIV Research, Care, or Prevention during his reign.

As far as ripping the Solar Panels out, he did this for two reasons.

One was because Nancy Reagan, being the Liberal that she's always been, liked them, and Ronnie hated anything that Nancy liked, even her grown kids.

The second reason was out of pure spite.

I can't tell you how much of a bad President he was.

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