Johnny Drama
5,000+ posts
Banned
A few hom ebuilders here in Northern California have recently announced they are building all of their new homes with Solar panels as part of the house. the govt has some rebates/ incentives.... Im not up on all of it, but......... our here where the sun is shining the govt should MANDATE solar panels on all new homes.
The number of solar panels being produced would skyrocket, costs would come down, and in 10 years most would have them I suspect. It is a win win for everyone involved. I just dont buy cost as the issue when it comes to NEW homes.
I have seen a show where some guy was working on a new type of cell that he thinks will costs less than 10% of what solar cells currently cost.
All I am saying is that the technology exists for all of us to be using them,....... but we as individuals cant get it done. it takes the govt to get serious about making this happen.
Same with smog laws out in the West, same with smoking in public places, same with seat belt laws. Someone just needs to have the balls to step up and make it happen. The benefits are huge..... but as well all have been told... WE ARE ADDICTED TO OIL.
My a.., we just have no real alternatives. Give us a viable alternative to oil and most will take it IMO.
Ill chime in on the solar pannels.
We recently looked into this.
Government offered us a $5000 tax break incentive to do solar panels.
The cost of this project was going to cost my parents $32,000. Ok so take the $5k that the government will give you a "tax break" on and you're still not going to come out a head for many, many years.
You may find 2 out of 12 months in a year where you either break even or come out selling energy to your utility companies. The other 10 months you might cut your costs in half. Still taking years to have a return on your investment.
