They tell us, look after the environment, so why do they charge so much for solar products ie Hot Water etc?
Every time I tern on the TV we are being told to use less energy, go solar but the price of solar hot water, or even solar panels are on the high side. So how are we going to achieve this when companies only want to make big bucks.
There are a lot of very economical an sensible solutions to energy usage.
Though painting your roof white might work, I doubt thats what you had in mind 
The media does say solar a lot because its blue and shiny, and easy to talk about without technical explaniations.
…and you are correct: solar is very expensive (even after tax deductions)
The media is generally not interested in you saving power, they are interested in you listening. There are many very economical ways to save power that never reach the news.
Here are some real suggestions that won’t cost nearly as much and will save you real power:
1. Add insulation to your attic. A local HVAC company can quote you on this. The larger the R-value the better.
2. Install a solar attic fan. This will save a tremendous amount on your air conditioning bill.
http://www.aurorapower.net/products/categoryid/2/list/1/level/a/productid/108.aspx
3. Install a double stage evaporative cooler. It is the most efficent airconditioner avalible, with 30% tax credit from the feds. It has strangely received little attention from the media.
http://www.aurorapower.net/products/categoryid/2/list/1/level/a/productid/80.aspx
4. Install a simple solar hot air system to a south facing wall. This will cut back on your heating bills.
http://www.aurorapower.net/products/list/1/categoryid/7/level/a.aspx
Hope these help.
you dont. You use gas and coal because its way cheap than solar plus it is much cleaner now than a century ago.
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There is a lot you can do yourself without buying the expensive solar products. Paint your roof white, it will cut down on energy costs in the summer. Put shade over the outside of sunny windows in the summer, allow sun in during the winter. Insulate your water heater. Seal air leaks around your house. Close fireplace flues. Grow more native vegetation so you use less water in your yard. You can even get cheap kits that will give you double pane windows using heat shrink plastic and double sided tape. There are hundreds of ways of being more energy efficient without spending much money. Solar water heating is not all that cost effective where other methods can be.
Thousands of years ago the Egyptians discovered the many uses of passive solar. It is cheap and easy to use and is utterly reliable, having no pumps, holding tanks etc. It is simply a matter of controlling when the heat can or cannot move between your house and the outdoors. Do a little research and you’ll see what I am talking about.
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They are laughing all the way to the Bank.
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As they become more popular the cost of production will decrease, more companies will get in the business and prices will go down.
References :
There are a lot of very economical an sensible solutions to energy usage.
Though painting your roof white might work, I doubt thats what you had in mind
The media does say solar a lot because its blue and shiny, and easy to talk about without technical explaniations.
…and you are correct: solar is very expensive (even after tax deductions)
The media is generally not interested in you saving power, they are interested in you listening. There are many very economical ways to save power that never reach the news.
Here are some real suggestions that won’t cost nearly as much and will save you real power:
1. Add insulation to your attic. A local HVAC company can quote you on this. The larger the R-value the better.
2. Install a solar attic fan. This will save a tremendous amount on your air conditioning bill.
http://www.aurorapower.net/products/categoryid/2/list/1/level/a/productid/108.aspx
3. Install a double stage evaporative cooler. It is the most efficent airconditioner avalible, with 30% tax credit from the feds. It has strangely received little attention from the media.
http://www.aurorapower.net/products/categoryid/2/list/1/level/a/productid/80.aspx
4. Install a simple solar hot air system to a south facing wall. This will cut back on your heating bills.
http://www.aurorapower.net/products/list/1/categoryid/7/level/a.aspx
Hope these help.
References :
Im a Mechanical Engineer for Aurora Power & Design
http://www.aurorapower.net/