tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post4885685681603844631..comments2024-03-07T03:09:25.987-06:00Comments on Unlikely Otaku: For Jeff King: Going SolarStephanie Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-74172477478684234902009-09-12T18:29:25.971-05:002009-09-12T18:29:25.971-05:00The Mother is right about ineffiency; the current ...The Mother is right about ineffiency; the current standard panels manage to capture about 17% of the available energy, and they definitely need circulation room between them and, say, the roof they're mounted on, to prevent overheating.<br /><br />I had to write a bunch of articles on this topic just recently, and was very encouraged to find that some new solar panels have just been developed (in Germany, I think, which tends to be the leader in solar work) that have as high as 49% efficiency, with the potential to go higher.<br /><br />So I think we're almost at the point where those bigger problems are close to being solved. What's happening now, though, is that with the recession all over the world, not as many people are buying solar panels and many companies' very existence is threatened. So that could set back both research and availability, which I think could be disastrous.<br /><br />But I think it's always wise to keep an eye on Germany, because they tend to be great leaps ahead of everyone else.<br /><br />I even found, when I was writing articles on portable generators, a generator that was powered by small portable solar panels, and could be used to run things like amplifiers and speakers at a community event. You even had the option of adding a small windmill on top of the tripod, so you got a combination of solar and wind in your portable generator.<br /><br />I want one so! bad! :-)Phylhttp://bookishgal.shinyideas.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-90141904711635352472009-09-12T15:25:01.054-05:002009-09-12T15:25:01.054-05:00We just put in solar panels for electricity on our...We just put in solar panels for electricity on our house. You can read about it at <br />http://marilynnesmith.com/blogging<br /><br />I agree with everything Rocket Scientist says about solar. We live in a sunny climate and we hope to recoup our costs in about 9 years.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I enjoy doing the laundry during peak hours and not having to worry about it. Our solar covers almost all of the electricity we use.<br /><br />MarilynneMarilynnehttp://marilynnesmith.com/bloggingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-41524354484613953032009-09-12T14:27:19.146-05:002009-09-12T14:27:19.146-05:00We did look into solar panels for our house a year...We did look into solar panels for our house a year or two back. <br /><br />Living, as we do, in the south, will all our grand sunshine, it would seem to be a good idea. <br /><br />NOT.<br /><br />Photovoltaic cells are inefficient to begin with, and when they get HOT, that efficiency decreases even more.<br /><br />Bottom line for us was that the technology just isn't there yet. We spent the money putting in double paned windows. And my electric bills went down.The Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157821003454766570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105799931107229707.post-91073368859615662842009-09-11T22:49:01.767-05:002009-09-11T22:49:01.767-05:00thx, i have been looking into it.
have read a few...thx, i have been looking into it.<br /><br />have read a few things about DIY do it youself project, that are supose to be good. but i am not sold by what i have read, further research is needed. maybe even talk a someone that has done it, that would be ideal...<br /><br />thx for your time.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.com