the working room: May 2008

Solar Power
Monday, May 26, 2008

Now, that the end of world - in the form of peak oil - is coming soon, and this has always been prophesied, what does the future regarding energy have to offer? I believe solar power is still the most promising, however there are a ton of hurdles to overcome.

I read the usual stuff about how there is enough solar energy hitting the planet to fuel the world, and then some. Even the robots - Sojourner Pathfinder, Spirit, Opportunity, and of late Phoenix - sent to Mars are running on solar power.

Solar power is always on and always free.

The question is: Why isn't it being harnessed properly and provided to everyone? Well, who would make money from free solar energy? Once solar technology is exploited, per installed solar panels, and aside from modest maintenance fees, there isn't anymore money to generate from this situation.

Businesses run on reoccurring consumption: customers return for more of the same. Even for products that may last a lifetime, people are urged to trade it in for new and improved models!

Department of Energy: USA! USA!

Never fear, there are people looking into this matter. Annually, the Department of Energy has a Solar Decathlon competition for college students to build the most attractive and energy efficient homes. The event takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., October 12 - 20.

The winner of the 2007 competition, Technische Universitat Darmstadt (of Germany) has an awesome website: check it out. The house which won was neat, totally efficient, and something I wouldn't even mind living in. Sometimes environmentally friendly doesn't look comfortable, but this house is cute.