User: random googler

energy balance and embedded environmental impacts

On: Google Campus to Become Solar-powered

There are some valid concerns about the embedded impacts of solar (energy to produce the panels, impacts from mining raw materials, etc.) But the energy balance is positive after several years, and depending on which policy environment you are under (tax incentives, etc.) the monetary payback can be as little as 7-10 years (especially in California, where the peak load the solar power is displacing regularly costs over 12 cents per kilowatt hour). And the main raw material is the same highly purified silicon used to make the chips in your computer. This is not simply the idealistic extravagence of nerds with cash. This is a replicable project that makes business sense, and has positive environmental impacts. The Washington Post has a pretty good article, as well as a link to an updated 3D rendering of the GooglePlex (with its significant roof space) in Google Earth: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic le/2006/10/16/AR2006101601474.html I wouldn't be surprised in the months to come if you here more re: the data centers. 1.21Gw?... Great Scott!