Going Solar – What Are the Disadvantages?
Disadvantages to going solar? That almost sounds like a contradiction in terms, and, as a confirmed advocate of solar and renewable energy, it almost amounts to blasphemy for me to even admit that there may be such a thing as a disadvantage to going solar.
But, since I already went over the advantages of going solar, it’s only fair that I present the other side of the coin, because, in all seriousness, there are disadvantages to going solar that anybody considering investing in solar energy should know about.
Let’s examine the disadvantages of going solar to help provide you with all the facts you need to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to invest in solar energy.
1. They Only Come Out In Light
The function of solar panels is to convert sunlight into electricity. Therefore, once the sun has gone down, solar panels are no longer productive, meaning they can only produce usable electricity for a certain number of hours per day, which can be a major limitation. Obviously, if a homeowner decides to be independent of the grid and needs electricity at night or when there’s a power outage, a means to store electricity will be needed, usually a battery or battery bank, which adds to the cost of the solar electric system.
2. Initial Expense
One of the things that prevents more people from investing in solar is the initial, upfront expense involved. Several pieces of equipment are needed to collect sunlight and then convert that energy (DC electricity) into usable (AC) electricity. Solar panels collect sunlight and are by far the biggest expense, depending on the amount of electricity needed.
They’re much cheaper than they were 5 years ago and will continue to get cheaper as technology and manufacturing processes improve. Government rebates and tax incentives also help to reduce the cost, but there’s no getting away from the fact that panels are an expensive proposition.
3. Lack Of Knowledge
Since photovoltaics is a relatively new technology, most people’s knowledge of the technology and how it works is very limited. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information available from government agencies and solar companies and also on the internet, but that means people need to take the initiative to get that information, and, unless they do, they’ll remain wary of a technology they’re unfamiliar with.
Lack of knowledge is a major factor in limiting the growth of solar energy and its implementation in more homes and businesses.
4. Energy Efficient Home Required
Since solar technology is expensive, it’s imperative that a home be made as energy efficient as possible prior to installing a solar electric system in order to minimize the size and cost of the system. This requires homeowners to reduce their electricity consumption wherever possible (unplugging appliances such as TVs and computers when not in use, changing out incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent, etc.) and trading in older appliances like refrigerators and washers and dryers for newer, more energy-efficient models.
These are the major disadvantages of going solar, and anybody considering investing in solar energy should be in possession of all the facts, both good and bad, regarding solar in order to make the most informed decision possible. So, now that you’re armed with the knowledge of the disadvantages, your next move should be to look at the advantages of solar so you can safely say you did your due diligence.
Random Posts
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 at 2:59 pm and is filed under Biofuels Disadvantages. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Comments are closed.