Energy / Renewable Energy December 8, 2011
Treehugger-Copyright © 2011 Discovery Communications
http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/solar-panels-are-cheaper-weve-been-told.html
This is a picture of solar panels on a house.
Summary: It is predicted that solar panels will be cheaper than coal in the near future. Joshua Hill reports that many postive reports about grid parity and solar competitiveness are overestimating solar's true costs. Solar panels also lose efficiency much more slowly than older technologies. Coal and other fossil fuels are hidden with very high costs. Some poeple do not think they can afford solar panels because it is too expensive, but really the fossil fuels we use now will end up being more expensive than solar power. Not only are coal and fossil fuels expensive, they are very bad for the environment. Solar panels would help the environment because they are a clean. renewable source of energy.
Opinion/Reflection: I had no idea that solar panels would end up being cheaper than coal and the other fossil fuels, in the near future. The fossil fuels we use now are very bad for the environment and I think it would be smart for more people to start using solar panels. If more people got solar panels, than it would really help the environment and it would help us financially in the future, so it is a win win! I made a connection with this because some of my friends have solar panels and I have heard that they are very expensive, but now I know they would really be helping us in the future.
Questions:
1. Do you think it would pay off for more people to get solar panels now, with our economy? Why or why not.
2. Why do you think the fossil fuels we use right now will be more expensive than solar panels in the future?
3. What would be the impact of the environment if more people used solar panels?
OPINION/REFLECTION: I agree with Julia when she said that she would have never thought that solar panels would end up being cheaper than coal and certain fossil fuels. Not many people have caught on to using solar panels as much as we should and thought would catch on. To be honest I think that it is good we are running out of coal and fossil fuels. Once we run out of sources that pollute our earth, we can no longer use those resources to further damage the planet. When I am up my mountain house I look for the number of solar panels, and there are actually a few houses with them. Even though it may take a lot of energy to set up solar panels, I think it is worth it. This topic also reminds me of one of my parents friends that works for something with nuclear energy. He told us that the solar panels are costly and take too long to set up. He said that he would like if solar panels were easy to build and were more common but he thinks energy will still be nuclear powered over the next years. As for me, I still think solar panels are the best idea.
ReplyDeleteANSWERS: 1)I think that people should buy solar panels now because the bill will be much lower for energy and electricity which will pay the buyers back in the long run.
2)Fossil fuels will be more costly because there will no longer be such an abundance of this source. Once this source is harder to find, the more people will fight over it and sell it for more profit.
3)If more people used solar panels than the earth would become healther. The air would not be as polluted, the water would be cleaner, and other pieces of nature would also be cleaner.
EXTRA QUESTIONS:
1)Why haven't people switched over to solar panels?
2)Do you have solar panels on your house? Why or why not?
3)Other than solar energy and fossil fuels, what are some other ways we can get our energy that will not pollute the earth? What do you think will be most used in the future and why?
Opinion: I think it is great that solar panels are going to be less expensive then coal. Many people will most likely be switching to solar panels then, because it is cheaper and better for the environment. I am very surprised to hear this because I thought it would be the other way around! When I am in the car, I see many big businesses with rows and rows of solar panels and I think it is great. I agree with Casey when she said that it is a good thing that we are running out of the fossil fuels, because then we will hopefully stop harming the planet.
ReplyDeleteAnswers to Questions:
1. I think that people should get the solar panels now because it will then lower their electric bill.
2. Because we are running out of them and there will be competition over who will get the fossil fuels.
Questions:
1. Are many people going to switch over after hearing this?
2. How much will this help our environment?
Relfection: This is a great idea. Everyone has heard of solar panels and knows that they are the better way to go, but everyone whho doesn't have them doesn't get them becasue the are too expensive (or that's what they think). Solar panels will definelty pay off in the future, and I know some places (up by my lake house is one) will actaully rehinburshe (can't spell...I know) you over x amount of years for buying/using solar panels. What a great idea! But coal and fossil fuels will be gone before we know it, and getting solar panels then will be much harder and probably cost more then getting them now! This obviously affects me because it'll help make the planet greener and turn coal and fossil fuels into renewable resources.
ReplyDeleteQuestions:
1)Yes because it will pay for themselves once you have had them and they will be cheaper to buy in a bad economy then it a booming economy.
2)Fossil fuels will be more expensive because they will become scarce and only the richest will be able to afford them, while solar light is free and the only cost is the solar panels.
3)Our resources would be able to renew, and there would be less pollution in the air becuase the burning of fossil fuels and coal would decrease. Solar panels are super green too.
Questions:
1) Do you think people would actually make the switch?Why or why not?
2)Why is it beleived solar panels are so much more expensive than they really are?
I amresponding to Brittany's question number one. I think that people will not switch over to using solar panels right away because they still cannot believe it or are just putting it off. People are thinking that everything is fine until we actually have dug ourselves a whole that is too deep to escape from. After prices start sky rocketing for resources such as coal is when we will finally see we need to be more careful with the resources that we use.
ReplyDeleteOpinion/Reflection: I think this is a great idea because eventually coal and oil is going to run out and we need another source of electricity. If people can spend money now and install solar panels then we will save oil and coal for other things. Also if a lot of people use solar panels we can save coal and oil.
ReplyDeleteAnswer to questions:
1)Yes it would because overall in the long run we will save money and we will save coal and oil.
2)The fossil fuels will soon deplete so its going to be more expensive.
3)From what I know, this has no environmental harms.
More Questions:
1) What would happen if we ran out of coal and oil and some people havent installed solar panels?
2) How could this impact other people?
3) Do you think other people would get inspired by this?