Call it the copycat syndrome or marketing burnout wherein a company has a success with one product at which point every company in the space copies the effort leaving a market dotted with me-too products with little differentiation other than price. Eventually through this process value is suctioned out of the product or service, demand wanes, and consumers move on. It is almost impossible to satisfy consumer desire for the cheapest or most innovative product/technology/service/oh-heck-anything, particularly because in the end the equilibrium price may well be zero and innovation may be defined as simply announcing that something is innovative.
The issue of energy may have been overshadowed by that of tax at yesterday’s EU summit of Heads of State in Brussels, but its growing importance and impact on Europe’s economy is one that cannot be ignored. As the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, Europeans are paying a lot for their energy – prices are 37% higher than those in the US and 20% hiSolar Fact or Fiction
There are many myths when it comes to solar energy… Here are some facts about many common misconceptions:
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Fact |
Fiction |
Statement | Reason |
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Solar Energy is better for the environment, and it can help combat global warming | Solar Power Systems produce no atmospheric emissions or greenhouse gases, in fact they actually work to offset emissions because typical your electrical energy would otherwise come from burning coal. |
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Solar Energy is a renewable energy source | The sun has an estimated 4 billion years of remaining lifespan, so Solar Energy will be a reliable source for the forseable future |
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Solar Energy can do everything right now | Solar technology has room for advancements, but it can currently do a lot (power your home, heat your water, improve air ventilation, etc.) | |
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Solar Systems only work where there is abundant sunshine | Anywhere the sun shines a Solar Power System will work (system size will vary), though some areas will have higher production values, depending on geography |
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The government will share the cost of your Solar Power System | 30% of the total system cost will be covered by the Residential Credit for Solar systems turned on between 2009 and 2016 | |
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Solar devices require more energy to manufacture than they produce | Manufacturing energy costs versus the energy production payback for Solar Power Systems is generally less than 4 years | |
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Solar Energy can’t meet any significant fraction of the U.S. or world energy needs | Every hour, the sun radiates more energy onto the earth than the entire population uses in a year – in short the sun provides plenty of energy, we just have to capture it efficiently | |
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The process for getting Solar Power is long and complicated | Check out our How to Buy Solar guide for info, tips and project timeline | |
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Solar Power Systems are too expensive | There is a Solar Power System that is right for every budget, and leasing options also exist. Advances in rebates, incentives/tax credits and technology make solar more affordable than it has ever been before. |
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With Solar Power, you can make your electric meter spin backwards |
If you produce more electricity than you use, it will be fed back into the electrical grid for use somewhere else. And best of all, your utility bill will carry a negative amount! |
