Is Solar Power the New Electricity?

by Eileen Weber

The high cost of fuel and the strained economy have made homeowners look for better options this coming winter. Many consumers are turning to solar power.

We’ve all seen the occasional home with solar panels on the rooftop. These days, the solar panels available create energy in a clean and efficient way. The semiconductor materials in the panels convert the sunlight directly into electricity, significantly reducing the amount that the average home uses.

According to Jonathan Craig, Director of the Talcott Mountain Science Center, his organization has been using solar power for the last few years. The panels generate electricity for the two buildings in which they were installed.

Many of the Science Center’s buildings were constructed in the ’60s. As a result, they wanted to upgrade their efficiency to reflect modern technology. Today, businesses and residences alike are looking to be more energy-conscious. “Conservation is the biggest step you can make,” said Craig, “to impact energy use.”

Craig also said they have seen the benefit of the solar panels in their electric bill. “We’ve saved about 10% to 15% on our annual electric bill,” he said.

 

Monique Brooks and her husband, Steven, are both architects. They decided to put solar panels in their Greenwich home. They were pretty keen on putting the panels on a side of the house that wouldn’t affect their curb appeal. “We’ve enjoyed seeing the electric bills go down,” said Brooks. “There was even one month when they owed us!”

The Talcott Mountain Science Center as well as the Brooks are part of The National Solar Tour of Connecticut. It serves as an opportunity for residents and business owners to see the growth in solar technologies and the ways in which they can be used for clean energy.

The tour will be held on Saturday, October 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free of charge. For more information on sites to visit, both commercial and residential, go to www.solarconnecticut.org or www.nationalsolartour.org.

Comments

[Stefanie]

I wish I could be in CT for the Solar Tour!

I've been trying to get in touch with Heather. She contacted me about coming up with a new design for ctgreenscene, but I'm afraid my email might be getting caught by her spam filter; I tried a couple of times with no response. If that's the problem, could whoever sees this ask her to contact me?