[geeks] Solar Panels on residence - anyone?

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

On Thu, Oct 19, 2006 at 07:41:03AM -0400, James Fogg wrote:
> That would solve two problems for me. I need a new roof and I need
> cheaper power.

Look into the solar collectors used to keep GPS satellites warm.
They produce boiling water from "earthshine". 

When I worked at Bloomberg, one of the people in the U.K. office was going
to install them to heat his home. For 3k UKP, he planed on heating his
house all winter. At the then current energy rates, it would take him
5-6 years to recoup his investment, at today's it would be 2-3.

Stationary photoelectric cells are one of the least efficient means of using 
solar radiation for energy. How clean is you air? As dust and dirt settle on
the cells they loose efficiency very quickly. You may end up going out there
with a hose and brush every few days. 

When I lived in Philly, that was not even possible much of the Winter.

Geoff.  
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