Dear Diary,
The idea that light can be
turned into electricity (the process is more scientifically known as the
photovoltaic effect) is nothing new, but the efficiency of the process has
always been a little off. In the beginning, the first solar cell had a
conversion efficiency of 1%. This means that only 1% of the light that is
absorbed is actually turned into electricity. Today, that rate has come a long
way, about 40%. It really isnt comparable (yet) to the way fossil fuels can
generate electricity but there are a number of advantages to sourcing
electricity from Die Casting Mold Factory the sun than from fossil fuels, like being environmentally
friendly and easily installed.
However, the initial expense
in creating the solar panel array can be quite high, especially if one buys a
prefabricated panel, and become a victim of shameless profiteering. A single
solar panel can go for around $500 to $800, with the most expensive parts being
the solar cells (but only because you really need a lot of them). After the
solar panel is up and working, maintenance cost is quite low. The problem is
that an ordinary house will need more than just one panel.
For every problem, there is a
solution. The answer to lowering the costs of installing a solar panel would be
to build one from the ground up. There are hundreds of Do It Yourself kits in
the market, and these come in different sizes. Should one feel doubtful about
their building skills, they could always buy the smallest ones first, which are
usually used as educational tools. They cost a lot less and the task would not
be as overwhelming.
The next size to try would be
the type of solar panels that will power only specific equipment or appliances,
like the water heater or the Jacuzzi. After a while, the builder will probably
get the hang of it and be churning out panels to cover the roof.
A school DIY kit often costs
less than $100, and a full solar panel will cost about $200. Even if they mess
up one kit and be able to succeed only on the second kit, they would still be
able to save at least $100, though it really is not as hard as it seems. With a
bit of practice, anyone can do it.
Another advantage of building
the solar panel is the satisfaction of being able to create something useful
with ones own hands. It may not be a work of art in the first few tries, but
its really not a beauty contest anyway.