jaspereliot

When Will Solar Be Cost-Competitive with Electricity?

The problem with people's view of solar is that it's an all-or-nothing proposition. It shouldn't be. Rather than expecting solar to suddenly replace electricity or fossil fuels overnight, it should be viewed as a partial solution; one component in a mix of energy solutions to help ease our ecological footprint. Believe it or not, there are more compelling reasons to invest in alternative energy sources than just saving a buck on your electric bills. Until we all have a philosophy that we're all equally responsible for minimizing the damage we're doing to our planet, we're not likely to get away from the 'cost-is-the-only-thin... principle. On my blog, The Solar Cost Guide (www.solarcostguide.com) much of the focus has been on expensive active systems, but there are still quite a few low-cost passive initiatives that we can do to reduce our overall energy costs. Time to start thinking a little outside the box and be creative in how we can reduce our energy independence. I'm hearing more instances each day about folks who are moving completely 100% off-grid by integrating solar active/passive systems and wind systems for a complete solution.