It's pretty well known that photovoltaics are very cost-ineffective. Its likely that efficiencies in materials and production will increase enough to eventually make it cost-effective, but that is some time away. Therefore, people commonly discredit PV and thus discredit all solar energy use as too expensive.
The reality is that solar hot water heating and passive solar design are very cost-effective. As part of a "Design of Solar Thermal Systems" course at NCSU, I designed a 2200 sq.ft. house located in Boulder, CO. We implemented a solar hot water system that accounted for 70% of the hot water and paid for itself in 8 years. We also used radiant floor heating with a water/glycol fluid mixture tubed beneath the floor which was on average capable of providing 90% of the heat need during the coldest time of the year (of course it would be less for houses that are not well insulated and have large amounts of infiltration).
Besides those active systems, we designed the house with an imbedded sunspace that was capable of annually providing 47% of the heat needed for the house.
Although these systems are not directly able to produce electricity, they are certainly cost-effective systems capable of significantly reducing electricity use in one's house and should be considered more.
i'm not an expert on the matter, i could see how mass email can add up in cost. but i would also think that mass numbers of people refreshing an rss feed multiple times to check for updates would incur bandwidth costs. i don't know if there would be a big difference. maybe someone could enlighten me:)
Re:still hard to really tell
on
Wii-mote In Action
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
i'm sure it'll be just like driving for the first time. you don't expect to be an expert right away, but once you get the feel of the accelerator, brake, & steering, its comfortable and second nature.
Slashdot Mirror
It's pretty well known that photovoltaics are very cost-ineffective. Its likely that efficiencies in materials and production will increase enough to eventually make it cost-effective, but that is some time away. Therefore, people commonly discredit PV and thus discredit all solar energy use as too expensive.
The reality is that solar hot water heating and passive solar design are very cost-effective. As part of a "Design of Solar Thermal Systems" course at NCSU, I designed a 2200 sq.ft. house located in Boulder, CO. We implemented a solar hot water system that accounted for 70% of the hot water and paid for itself in 8 years. We also used radiant floor heating with a water/glycol fluid mixture tubed beneath the floor which was on average capable of providing 90% of the heat need during the coldest time of the year (of course it would be less for houses that are not well insulated and have large amounts of infiltration).
Besides those active systems, we designed the house with an imbedded sunspace that was capable of annually providing 47% of the heat needed for the house.
Although these systems are not directly able to produce electricity, they are certainly cost-effective systems capable of significantly reducing electricity use in one's house and should be considered more.
overcharging for goods that wealthy people buy and donating money to benefit the poor....
steal from the rich, give to the poor...
Bill Gates = Robin Hood ?
i'm not an expert on the matter, i could see how mass email can add up in cost. but i would also think that mass numbers of people refreshing an rss feed multiple times to check for updates would incur bandwidth costs. i don't know if there would be a big difference. maybe someone could enlighten me :)
i'm sure it'll be just like driving for the first time. you don't expect to be an expert right away, but once you get the feel of the accelerator, brake, & steering, its comfortable and second nature.
"Our legal system is protecting those who're too stupid to live."
appropriate contraction, eh?