| "Buy solar energy and reduce energy costs!" That's | | | | But it's not just homeowners who buy solar energy; |
| the biggest promise of solar power providers, and | | | | the governments take advantage of the lower |
| easily the biggest incentive for you to jump on the | | | | generation costs, like in the Nellis Air Force Base in |
| solar energy bandwagon. But considering that solar | | | | Nevada. Nellis gets its power for less than 25% of the |
| energy systems - even mass market ones - have | | | | grid cost. |
| five-figure price tags, is the reduction really worth | | | | Cost vs. Benefit |
| buying that much new technology? | | | | The next question on your mind is probably about the |
| Who Buys Solar Energy? | | | | cost of the technology compared to the energy cost |
| Solar power isn't as new to the block as you might | | | | reduction it'll give you. After all, it only makes sense to |
| think. It's been in use for decades now by specialized | | | | get a solar power system if it'll provide a big significant |
| groups like NASA, which has been sending solar | | | | reduction in power expenses. |
| panels to space for much of the life of its space | | | | Its a question with a multifaceted answer, but the long |
| program. What's recent is the jump from high-budget | | | | and short of it is that the system could pay for itself |
| fields to the mainstream consumer market, thanks | | | | with savings within about a decade. Going solar does |
| largely to advances in the technology made in the last | | | | make a huge difference in terms of how much you |
| few years. | | | | pay for power. Nellis Air Force Base, for example, |
| But the concept of powering homes and cities with the | | | | pays just 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour with solar, as |
| sun and reduce energy costs isn't a new idea, and | | | | opposed to 9 cents per kilowatt hour when they get |
| neither is it a limited one. As early as the 1970's, energy | | | | power from the grid. |
| agencies around the world - particularly ones in then | | | | On the cost side of the equation, it's true that solar |
| already developed nations - were already exploring | | | | power systems are still a considerable investment |
| solar power. The Solar Energy Generating Systems | | | | today. However, the trend is one of declining prices |
| project in the Mojave Desert, for example, began | | | | and increasingly available technology. With prices on |
| operating in 1984 and is the largest facility of its kind on | | | | the downturn and government subsidies within reach, it |
| the planet. | | | | makes more and more sense for you to reduce |
| Nowadays, everyone can purchase solar generated | | | | energy costs and buy solar energy technology - soon, |
| power in countries like the US, Japan and Germany. | | | | if not now. |