Why Don’t We Have Solar Panels on All Roofs?

It recently struck me as odd as to why we don’t have solar panels on all of our cars and homes. Is anyone else stunned by this? Afterall, solar-powered calculators were invented years ago, specifically 1978.  This prompted me to do some research on the history of solar panels.

In fact, the first solar powered water heater was invented and patented in 1891 by Clarence Kemp. Throughout the early 20^th Century more research was done by scientist, including Albert Einstein. In the 1940s, passive solar buildings actually became popular in the United States. The book, Your Solar House, was even published and featured 49 of the nation’s finest solar architects. But it was in 1954 when the photovoltaic technology was invented by Bell Labs. This PV technology was the first solar cell capable of running everyday electrical equipment, including the calculator!

Today’s solar panels use this same PV technology that has been around for centuries. The solar panels silently convert light into electricity. There are no moving parts. They require little maintenance and are designed to last for many years. Solar panels can supply a substantial proportion of the electricity needs of a typical household.

How do Solar Panels Work?

They are often mounted on the roof or on the ground and connected to the local electric utility, either supplying all the power directly to the home or pumping the excess back to the utility.  Apart from reducing your utility electricity bill homeowners can often sell any surplus electricity directly back to the utility at an attractive rate.

Solar panels are also used for commercial applications ranging from large-scale power plants to small family-run businesses. The applications are almost endless, but each has the same idea in mind: harnessing the power of the sun to make clean, affordable electricity.

Are Solar Panels Available Near You?

I then did a search on the availability of solar panels. There are many companies that manufacture solar panels. Finding someone to install them however may be more challenging. I did a local search to see if I could find someone in my area. (Nashville isn’t exactly the green capital, although it is doing much better.) By googling “Solar Panel Installation Nashville” I found at least one reputable company that could install solar panels on my house.

So, again, why don’t we all have solar panels on our roofs?

Cost.  Based on the website estimate calculator of the TN contractor, it would cost approximately $85,000 to install enough solar panels to cover all my electricity needs (based on a 2000sf house). That’s a far cry from the free solar-powered calculator. There is however an attractive 30% federal tax credit for the total solar cost.  So, that would really be $59,500.  Taking my electricity bill of approximately $200/month into account, it would pay for itself in 25 years.  However, if it were financed over 30 years along with the house, then it wouldn’t seem as daunting.

Hope for the Future!

Many new homes, particularly in areas such as New Orleans that are rebuilding with green design in mind, are in fact building the homes with solar panels.  As demand grows, so will competition. And with increased competition, the prices will inevitably go down. Already demand has increased over the last few years as more people are either seeking to be off the grid or wanting to be less reliant on utility companies.  In fact, even Home Depot now sells and installs solar panels! Go to Home Depot for more information.

Ultimately we are all tuning into the fact that there is an unlimited energy source beaming down at us on a daily basis. Why not harness that energy AND without harm to the environment?

For other resources, visit www.evergreensolar.com and www.globalgreen.org.

Being Green With Feng Shui

While the Green Movement gains momentum, Feng Shui enthusiasts and consultants are saying, “It’s about time!” Another phrase borrowed from Barbara Mandrell comes to mind, “We were ‘green’ before ‘green’ was cool.” So what does Feng Shui and being green have in common? Everything actually.

The end goal of Feng Shui and the Green Movement is the same: Living in harmony with Mother Earth. But the means is quite different.

Thousands of years ago the Chinese incorporated Feng Shui into their living spaces as a way of life. By intuitively following the way that the wind (Feng) and water (Shui) shaped the land, the Chinese would locate their homes in a way to optimally harmonize their living environment with the Earth’s energy. By living “in harmony,” our host, Mother Earth, benefited as did her guests.

Fast forward a few thousand years to 2009 A.D. One third of the Earth’s natural resources have been depleted in the last three decades. The United States alone consumes 30% of the world’s resources and 30% of its waste with only 5% of the world’s population. If every country consumed at this rate, we would need 3-5 planets. And then there are the toxins. There are over 100,000 synthetic chemicals used in commerce today with U.S. industries admitting to releasing over 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals annually. (See www.storyofstuff.com for more stats.)

Somewhere along the way we have gone from living in harmony with Mother Earth to destroying her. The Green Movement is about undoing this destruction. What caused the disharmony and what will bring us back in harmony is the same thing: the bottom line. Businesses are learning that it can be a win-win situation to work in harmony with the Earth. On top of that, consumers are also demanding earth-friendly products, from cars to shoes to food. What everyone is realizing is that we simply cannot continue to live on this Planet while harming it. As a result, we are coming up with smarter, better, and more cost-effective ways of living. And, in doing so, we are slowly returning to a time of respecting our host, Planet Earth.

While the Green Movement looks at how we can live harmoniously with the Earth on the physical plane, Feng Shui consultants consider the same thing but on the energetic level. Having toxins, energy inefficiencies, or lots of “stuff” is inherently not good Feng Shui and can be spotted a mile away through Feng Shui eyes. Even more so, a Feng Shui consultant can observe, feel, and improve the energy or chi (which is actually electromagnetic waves from the Earth) on the land or in a space to optimize the living environment.

While there is a difference in the means to the end, these two sciences overlap with a singular message that is spreading across the globe. And that is to live consciously. That alone will make Mother Earth smile.