Real Fiero Tech

CIGS PV cells printed on aluminum foil for $1/watt.
Efficiency is less than silicon PV's, but cost is MUCH lower.

http://www.memagazine.org/may08/departm ... t_out.html

http://www.nanosolar.com/
http://www.heliovolt.net/
http://www.daystartech.com/


DayStar is public... Buy now.

won't be long now and i'll be plunkin down some money for solar panels for my roof.

My dad's estimated heating oil cost for this year is over $6000... he's looking at solar water and home heat (still has a furnace and hot water heat system). Even if it costs $10K, the repayment interval is only 2 years.

The Dark Side of Will wrote:My dad's estimated heating oil cost for this year is over $6000... he's looking at solar water and home heat (still has a furnace and hot water heat system). Even if it costs $10K, the repayment interval is only 2 years.

What's he heating....Boston??? If his energy consumption is that high, would $10k worth of solar heating equipment cover all of his demand?

Bryce

He's using a GE furnace that was state of the art when it was built (in the 1950's). The house itself is very old and quite large. It still has the original wood frame/counterweighted windows with wavy glass. While this is nifty to old skool types, it lacks a good bit for energy efficiency. We've been quoted $250 each for modern windows... but the house has over 50 windows so even that effort will cost $10K. That same money put into a solar system will likely make a MUCH bigger dent in the bill. The windows can (and SHOULD) come later.

yeah I have an indirect hot water tank and water tubes under the floors for hot water radiant heat. I've got a high efficiency propane boiler for my hot water and heating but am considering adding a solar heater for it and leave the boiler as the backup heater.

but I also insulated my house with spray in poluerethane foam and radiant barrier foil.

my worse electric bill for the A/C has only been 160$ for a 3000sqft house

i've had 800sqft apartments with 200$ bills

Awesome :thumbleft: