how reliable is solar power,and dose it make much difference really.?

Answer 1

It's as reliable as sunshine. Or daylight. And even in the northern hemisphere, we tend to get a lot of both. Of course it makes a difference. It means you're generating your own electricity from a renewable source, not using fossil fuels which are running out.

Answer 2

Solar power is not as reliable as other types, since night and heavy clouds prevent it from working. Still it is free, except for the cost of building the collector and storage unit, which until modern times was not easy or cheap. All the big energy companies would lose income if everyone switched to solar heating of water and homes. Governments would lose taxes, being unable to tax the sun.

Still governments have encouraged the use of passive solar energy for heating in some places. Unfortunately too many governments are roadblocks to individual energy independence through building codes and zoning laws that have not changed much in a century.

A well built underground/earth-sheltered home may go completely without heat for a week and lose only 10 degrees F. of temperature in sub-zero temperatures, going from 75 to 65 inside. Passive solar heating is ideal there. When summer temperatures climb to 90 and above the house stays cool naturally or with the use of some geothermal cooling. A solar and bio-fuelled steam powered generator with only a few batteries could provide all the electricity needed. Fibre optics could bring sunlight into every room during the day.

The house would be safe from storms and probably would be some protection in case of nuclear war [God prevent such a thing.] Yet banks won't loan money to build them, calling them "basements" and governments won't allow them to be built because they don't fit their codes and ideas of what houses should look like. The businesses though don't want them because they are too efficient and it would take their profits and the politicians either see the loss in tax revenues or are under pressure from business so they won't normally change the laws.

The passive solar being implemented in many places is not a threat to business or government, since it is supplemental and for heat only. Utilities are involved in the manufacture of solar devices and they are built to break down and be replaced to keep the profit stream flowing. Governments can also tax those units. Anything you can build for yourself, maintain yourself, that cuts them out of their profits or taxes will be opposed. You may not ever hear anyone in government say they oppose you, since that would be political suicide. They will instead wrap you in red tape, become very obtuse and dead-letter about every rule and regulation and take their own sweet time about doing anything so that one permit expires before the second is granted so you have to go back and get the first permit again, during which time the second permit expires and such legal but unjust tactics.

Yes, solar power could make a real difference, if it was done correctly, to free the individual of almost all energy expenses.

Answer 3

My house is partially solar powered. My bill runs half of what it used to run. 260 down to 110 for this November compared to last November. I live in South Carolina so we get a good deal of sun, but ours works even when it's cloudy. It doesn't use heat, it uses light. We are planning to get an off grid wind generator with our next tax return.

Answer 4

solar power is free...so yes it makes a great difference in your electric bill and energy consumption...google earth houses of New Mexico ...they are built using old tires filled with dirt for undersround walls and they actually keep the houses cool in summer and warmer in winter using the sun by retaining the heat or cool and they use solar power to live one family's electric for the year was $100 total some even sell their extra power back to the electric company...check it out

Answer 5

solar power is free and will be around forever without running out like other fuels so it does make a difference

Answer 6

solar panels cost a lot to get installed but they arent fully reliable because you have to live in an area of which sunshine can shine onto the solar panels and it will still cost you but your bill would be cheap...

Answer 7

Homemade Solar Panel DIY : http://www.CreateHomeSolar.com

Answer 8

we have solar panels for our hot water. and well our last gas bill was £4.00p in total!!!
So it has got to help in some way.

Answer 9

As reliable as the sun. And yes it does.

Answer 10

it is much more eco friendly