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SOLAR vs. A CAR which is the best value?
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Consider this,
Living with Solar Electricity is Like Owning a Car.
Which makes more sense?
If you have a car, you already have an idea what life with a solar electric system is. While a car serves to transport, electricity provides power to run equipment like appliances, tools, and entertainment items. A car is fueled by gasoline while electricity is mainly fueled by indirect solar sources (hydro, fossil fuel, nuclear and wind) and now with photovoltaic panels by direct solar (sunlight), too. In a car the gas gauge lets the driver know the fuel status. Solar electric systems have meters to show fuel (electricity) storage and availability. Car general maintenance consists of periodic checking of the fluids (radiator, battery, brake, wiper, etc.) and cleaning of wind shield. A solar electric system's maintenance also requires periodic checking of battery water levels (if batteries are part of the system)and cleaning of the glass on the PV panels. The initial cost of a car can best be broken down into 3 subcategories: economy ($9000 to $14,000), standard ($15,000 to $24,000) and luxury ($25,000 and up). Likewise can the initial price of solar systems (after incentives) be classified: economy ($4,000 to $8,000), standard ($9,000 to $20,000) and deluxe ($21,000 and up). The performance life expectancy of a car is around 150,000 to 300,000 miles depending on use and maintenance--about 15 years. Cars typically have 1 year 30,000 mile warranties. Solar electric panels now come with 25 year warranties and better systems come with 5 year installation warranties. The actual life expectancy of PV panels is not established but there are many with already over 20 years of use and still going strong. No moving parts plus the stability of silicon crystals make for a solid and long term functioning item.
But while most people are willing to pay for transportation "up front," buying a personal source of power (electricity) has not been the norm. And while a car has additional costs of tires, license, insurance, and repair (wear to moving parts), a solar system has none of these add on costs and in fact pays back its initial investment by freeing the user from an electrical service bill each month. Yet people do buy cars but don't 'buy' their electrical supply. Why?
Electricity is available to most people for a pay-as-you-go monthly bill, but so are rental cars. Why buy one and not the other? Because people have become comfortable with owning and managing a car, but don't have experience with handling electricity beyond plugging a cord into a socket. Cars have also come to represent convenience, independence, and prestige. Then why not take advantage of a bus which frees a person from operation and maintenance responsibilities? Riding in a vehicle that costs $150,000 or more sounds prestigious too. But what about convenience? Only a personal car can be available on demand whereas a bus is tied to a route and schedule. But isn't electricity always available so why have the hassles of its management? Independence is a main factor, convenience is realistic, too, with outages quickly managed on site. And prestige comes a bit later when you can afford to buy the next car because you aren't paying and paying for electricity rental.
Just about anyone can waltz into their bank and get a loan for a new car. A new car which will probably be becoming junk just about the time the loan is paid off. A new car which pollutes our planet, and costs its owner with every visit to the gas station. And yet your bank is happy to lend you money for this scenario. Instead try asking for a loan to purchase a solar electric system. A PV system which frees you from monthly electric power bills. A system which does not pollute this planet. A system that is so long lived that you will deed it to your children. A system with virtually no operating cost The bank might say no (as of a few years ago) Today most banks will say yes in fact reduced rate loans are available for PV systems. So solar systems are self-financed by most folks (read that , "We bought the PVs one or two at a time as we could afford it. This is more financially sound than borrowing the money and paying the interest! Financing for solar systems is available, however.
Great Brook Enterprises, 819 County Rd 28, South New Berlin, NY 13843-9519 Phone: 607-847-6366 Fax 607-847-9253 (M-F 8-5). Adapted by Dave Austin, proprietor.