| The price of a barrel of oil has never been higher | | | | very attractive for many commercial |
| ($62.00+ in summer 2005 even before the chaos | | | | organizations and consumers. |
| caused by Katrina). Some say this is a temporary | | | | Efficiencies have been realized in several |
| spike, but more and more analysts are agreeing | | | | technologies. The inverters that transform the |
| that this kind of pricing is here to stay. World | | | | collected DC energy into usable AC energy used |
| consumption is at an all time high and given the | | | | to deliver only about 65% efficiency. 35% of the |
| new thirst for oil in China and India it is unlikely to | | | | collected energy was lost in the transformation |
| diminish. According to International Energy Outlook, | | | | process. Today's transformers are so efficient |
| global demand is expected to continue to increase | | | | they deliver up to 96% of collected energy into |
| by as much as 59% in the next fifteen years. | | | | usable AC current. |
| Already, consumer energy bills have been | | | | Photovoltaic technology has also made solar |
| increasing on average 6.5% per year for the last | | | | collection far more efficient. Twenty years ago, |
| thirty years in the United States. Given the | | | | only 5% of the sun's energy hitting a solar |
| dramatic rise in the cost of producing energy | | | | charging panel was harvested. This figure is now |
| using traditional non-renewable resources, this rate | | | | in excess of 15% and will continue to climb as |
| is bound to be overtaken by unheard of price | | | | more efficient compounds are designed and |
| increases in the very near future. And for | | | | introduced in the manufacture of these |
| consumers who are becoming more and more | | | | photovoltaic panels. |
| environmentally conscious, the thought of the | | | | All levels of government are increasingly looking at |
| millions and millions of tons of CO2 and other bi | | | | solar to provide stable, cost effective and |
| products being released into the atmosphere | | | | environmentally friendly power. 35 states now |
| annually through the use of fossil fuels in creating | | | | have some kind of rebate program for |
| energy is very alarming. | | | | homeowners that install solar power systems. |
| It is a no brainer that our reliance on oil to create | | | | And this is not just the southern "sunny states". |
| energy leaves us very vulnerable. There are | | | | While California is the clear leader in promoting |
| renewable technologies that produce energy, but | | | | solar powered energy solutions (a program |
| the problem has been one of cost effectiveness. | | | | introduced in 2003 is promoting the introduction of |
| It has always been cheaper to supply energy | | | | solar powered energy systems into a million |
| using fossil fuels, and consequently, renewable | | | | homes over the next several years) New Jersey |
| sources such as solar or wind power have not | | | | and New York are next in line for solar |
| taken off. But the situation now appears to be | | | | investment. |
| changing. More and more, our consumption of | | | | At the municipal level, many jurisdictions have |
| energy is outstripping supply. The grid can barely | | | | introduced solar solutions for traffic and |
| keep up with demand and rolling blackouts are no | | | | streetlights. 50% of the energy used to run the |
| longer just a concept. No wonder governments | | | | City of Sacremento's water purification plant is |
| are looking for alternatives. And no wonder | | | | solar. NASA uses solar powered energy systems |
| everyone is talking solar once again. | | | | in many of its buildings. And governments are not |
| In 1985 annual worldwide solar power system | | | | using solar just because it is good for the |
| installation accounted for 21 megawatts of power. | | | | environment and sets an example for commercial |
| By 2004, this had multiplied to an incredible 927 | | | | entities and consumers (although these benefits |
| megawatts in new installation power production | | | | cannot be lost on them!). They've concluded that |
| alone. The demand for solar produced energy | | | | opting for solar systems will save them hundreds |
| over the last several years has increased annually | | | | of thousands of dollars. |
| about 25%, although in 2004 sales were up a | | | | With so many rebate programs today |
| whopping 67% from the previous year. | | | | homeowners are coming to the same conclusions. |
| There are several reasons for this increase in | | | | Once the initial return on investment is recouped |
| popularity for all things solar powered. Beyond the | | | | (as early as 4 to 6 years with the rebate |
| obvious environmental considerations and the | | | | programs in California for example), solar users |
| privilege of not having to rely on power from a | | | | don't have any additional energy bills, almost no |
| grid that is aging and stretched to capacity, solar | | | | maintenance to worry about and are not slave to |
| is getting cost effective. While traditional energy | | | | an electrical grid that is becoming more and more |
| production gets more expensive, technological | | | | fragile as demand outstrips supply. No wonder |
| advances are making solar power cheaper. | | | | solar power is getting attention! |
| In 1980 the cost of harvesting energy from the | | | | Solar power is still more expensive than traditional |
| sun stood at about $100 per watt. Literally a | | | | energy production methods, but the gap is |
| hundred times more expensive than the going | | | | narrowing every year. Solar power applications |
| rate of electricity, these systems were not | | | | are also multiplying at an amazing rate. House |
| economically viable. By 1999 however, technology | | | | heating, solar pool lighting and heating, hot water |
| had reduced this to about $4 per watt and costs | | | | tank heating, calculators, flashlights, solar garden |
| have continued to decline by about 5% per year | | | | lighting and on and on. Solar is clean, it's efficient |
| since. The Return on Investment is becoming | | | | and it's here to stay. |