Power Outage, Isn't It Time To Become Solar?

I'm waiting for the much heralded solar paint. Can't wait to slather it over everything ! Go solar. Panels are way more efficient though. I'm getting them as well soon.

Awesome idea

I've designed, built and lived with PV solar, on an off-the-grid property and a very small home. That was here in Arizona, where one can capture more sunlight that most anywhere else. That property was sold; I truly miss it and hope to do it again.

However, a very basic system which might keep you going for ONLY some basics for any length of time (say, overnight) will not support electric heating or water heating or range, nor any other such major consumption items. A most basic system with out those biggies (all gas) will cost at least $10,000 just for materials, while a regular home will typically cost upwards of $50,000.

For that occasional outage, you'll be MUCH money ahead off owning a generator, or perhaps better would be an inverter, cabling and transfer switch to connect to your electric service, and hook up to your car/truck.

In collapse, one likelihood would be that the grid shuts down indefinitely. That's a totally different scenario and demands a complete passive solar solution, or a darn cave.

Of course green energy is what we want the problem is we are not there yet So we have to drill and get independant of the enemies of our country!

Sure. Politicians have to developp this kind of solution. Some are totally against because they don't want to see the reality.

If I lived in a sunny state I would be happy to use solar energy, but I live in a state where cloudy days outnumber sunny days. I live in a state where I would have to shovel the snow off of the solar panels. Not a fun way to spend my winters.

Being realistic, how could any citizen afford enough panels to run a house and pool?

There are DIY projects out there to make your own at a fraction of the cost. I've never met anyone who's done this but I'm curious to know how well the DIY community who has is fairing.

Let me know if you find out.

I saw something about that on youtube, I think.

Yes! Good idea : ) There are tons of them. Here's the first one that was listed.

I have them and I'm glad I do [I don't have a pool - - but they generate more than enough electricity to run my house.]

and here's a piece of info I didn't have until I started researching getting the whole-house system. I wish I had known it years ago - so I'm passing it on every chance I get:

1/4 of the electricity we use goes to heating our water and keeping it hot.
a solar water heater costs 1/10 what pvc panels cost.
so, if you spend 1/10 the cost you will use only 3/4 or the electricity your were using before and shave 1/4 off your bill. not bad, huh?

if I had known that, I would have taken the plunge years earlier than I did.

Once the hardware is paid for...

Who is going to send you a monthly bill?
(They are capable of anything to keep getting it)

No more blackouts

Exactly!

you're right, of course.
the energy company continues to send out a bill. they have a powerful lobby, after all. so, Congress decreed that solar power [even with batteries] does not allow the person to opt out of being on the grid.

I generate more power than I use during the summer. but they send me a bill to pay for the staff who keep my name on the books at the power company. how that manages to amount to $10.48 per month, just for bookkeeping, is beyond me but that's what they charge.

That definitely needs to change. Outrageous.

Serbia to get world`s biggest solar plant

LUXEMBOURG/BELGRADE, 12.20.2011 -Luxembourg`s Securum Equity Partners has decided to take advantage of the sun power potential in Serbia, which is higher by a third than that in central Europe, and to start construction of the world`s biggest solar park worth close to USD 3 billion in mid 2013. Panels whose power will total 1,000 MW will be placed on around 3,000 hectares, so the future plant will double the size of the current record holder, a 500 MW solar park in California. In addition to the favorable geographic location, which is of great importance as Securum Equity Partners primarily intends to export electric energy, Serbia`s sun radiation is among the highest in Europe. The project should get under way as early as January next year. The company estimates that it will acquire all permits by 2013, when construction should start on the solar park which will be connected to a distribution system in stages, by 2015.

I will contact you later about a program that allows you to convert to solar power and get off the electric company grid. I think the program has something to do with installing solar panels on the roof. See you in a bit with this info.

Most certainly my friend!

**sigh**
if what you're saying [that we only have power when the sun is shining] were true, those of us with panels {and I'm one] would have to go to bed at sundown every night and reset our clocks every morning. and that's to say nothing about refrigerated food.

having panels doesn't mean you're not attached to the grid. during the day, I create far more power than I need. what I don't use feeds into the power company through the wires that are still attached to my house. then, at night, I draw against the balance I created during the day.

learning how the system works before weighing in with false information is always a plus.

yes, I know there are lots of people in this country who don't trust science.

as to still being on the grid:
1] I don't yet have batteries. that's slated for next year.
2] the power industry has a powerful lobby so the state says I'm not allowed to opt out even once the batteries are up and running. that way, they get to charge me $10.48 per month for the "privilege" of remaining on their books. gee, thanks.

I think solar is just one solution.

I am ready for solar and believe we should already have been using
solar, wind, & other renewable energy sources.

On the gas stove part, turn the gas and use a match to light it.
Solar power is a great idea, but for some reason the power that be have not pushed it!
From what I've read it seems to be in the harvest and storage of solar problems lie and the storage.

but.......i don't think it will be enough.

I agree!

:)

From both a fiscal and environmental perspective, solar power is the way of the future. If I had the money, I'd get solar panels on my roof and geothermal pipes around my house. I think my yard is big enough for a wind turbine, but the noise and size might bug my neighbors.

Absolutely! I hate electric companies.

I hate them, the HUGE electric subsidies for Agri Business and hog farms and the huge CASH subsidies for Nuclear plants

Awesome reply! Thanks!

I do too...they charge entirely too much for their services.

It's been my fantasy for...gee...almost a life time to give the ol' electric companies the bird...(sorry, that wasn't nice). One time, back in the 70s (living in Florida) when there were no PCs to have to plug in, I was so sick of the electric companies, that when I rented a little lake cottage, paid my deposit for the telephone, and then discovered that I had a gas hot water heater, I thought to myself, "why do I need electricity?" I set up a little Coleman stove in the kitchen, brought in some lanterns, used ice for my food items, and dried my hair in the sun. Lovely! But then the landlord found out and threatened to evict me if I didn't turn on the electricity! Geez. How I hated the electric companies...

That was unfair! I hate them too and would love to live in a solar powered
house. I rent so that isn't likely.