Wind and Solar, thoughts, facts, and statistics
 

I've heard good things about new solar panels and vertical axis turbines. I can't find any data on them from reputable sources, but they sound good. I kind of would like to hear the raw facts from some of the members here so I can make up my mind as to what to think. I like the idea of these things if they're as good as they sound, but I just don't know.

What i can tell you for a fact is that, if you're on the US and would liek to start acompany or invest in one, Solar Power looks real good. And if you live in a coastal city (or windy city) Wind power is also a solid investment. From 2009 and onwards there should be a lot of "pushing" towards these energy sources

Well, I know some people like to complain (or pretend to complain) about the sound of windmills out in rural areas, whether or not they actually live near a wind farm or just want to keep one from being built near them. Personally, I think it's mainly people who don't get the windmills and therefore the money from the company who complain the most, because yeah the windmill may be a little loud (I've never personally heard one so I can't even say if they're just knee-jerking), but if it's in your back 40 you're usually all for it even so.

As for solar, I can't see any downside to solar except the initial cost of the panel but they're now creating the new cheaper panels and it just seems like such an easy way to collect energy. I mean, why not just mount solar panels on the hood, roof, and trunk of your car to get some extra electricity that way, you know? Also, besides putting the panels out in the southwest, they could look at a Alaska it's light there for weeks at a time. Maybe not sunny, and it's cold, so that might affect your performance...ahh, I don't know, I'll leave it to the solar panel experts.

Anyway, I'm pretty much for solar panels and personally have no problem with windmills as long as I can benefit from them in either actually hosting the building site (we have some prime area for it, nice tall clear hill, about 93 acres, rural area, seems to always be breezy and windy), or in significantly reduced electric bill along with everyone else.

Do you have solar panels on your home? (Or know of anyone who does?) How fast does the cost of having them bought and installed overtake the cost of monthly electric and heating bills? I imagine that it's becoming more and more efficient and cheap to do it this way.

Depends. I've seem people who have Solar panels to replace the eletric system of the house, and i've seem people who have solar panels systems that are only meant to heat water.

I've worked in a small hotel where the entire water system was heated by solar panels, the owner said that depending on the month he could save up to 40% on his eletric bill just because of the water system (we needed hot water in all rooms and on the kitchen)

I'm particularly interested in the specifics of the vertical axis turbine and new cheaper, supposedly more efficient solar panels.

New solar panels are very cheap

My electronics teacher installed solar panels in his Colarado home and saved money that way. I think it's a sound investment.

Edit: I used to live in sight of windmills, they aren't loud at all.

Have you found data on them from disreputable sources? From prior topics on this board, I speculate that other members of the forum might find them more reputable than you do.

It's a good thing if solar and wind power are becoming cheaper as well as cleaner than other energy producing methods. But it needs to go beyond individual people getting a few solar panels installed on their house to save a little in their electric bills.

And even so I fear it's too little too late.

If the only sources are from psuedo-environmentalists, I'm not going to call it reputable. Those organizations lie and exaggerate. However, I have heard good rumors from people I know who don't support, and in fact, hate such groups, so I'm not finding the idea of these things being good implausible. But come on, it's gotta be from somewhere trustworthy, like popular mechanics or ieee, or something.