Great news. If this stuff takes off and is as easy and cheap to produce as they say, as well as being waterproof and fairly durable it could shift the entire energy sector in a matter of a few years.It should be made standard for every new house to have its roof covered in the stuff... which according to this article would render that house energy self sufficient :)Think about it... electric cars havn't taken off because they lack the range of standard cars (they're also kinda pricey). If they built electric cars with the same kinda motors as those Tesla Roadsters, but cheaper heh... and pasted a load of that film on the roof... we may never again have need for refueling stations. However they could have depots within petrol stations that charge cars also.What I'd like to know is.. IF that all happened within the next ten years, on a worldwide scale.. for houses and transport. So the amount of greenhouse gases being produced was cut by a large margin... what would happen to the environement... What would happen if we just stopped producing ANY greenhouse gases. Its a model thats not really been thought through. Everyone's just assumed the world would be all happy and good.
@drmangrum"What if the surplus energy from the film was used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis? The hydrogen could then be used to power a generator."You expect there to be surplus energy? That'll take a lot of solar panels. There are thermodynamic limits on the efficiencies of solar panels, so a given area (i.e. your roof) has a maximum amount of energy it can produce if filled with solar cells. I know someone with his entire roof covered, and he can barely keep the lights on and the place heated. Don't expect to disconnect from the grid if you want to be able to run your computer, router, tv, and dishwasher at the same time--especially if you're banking on having surplus energy.Search to buy some solar panels online, and you'll find some that give you 50-100 W for a few hundred dollars. I don't know about yours, but my computer alone takes 450 W, without the monitor, router, cable modem, printer, etc. Maybe you'll save some money on electric bills in the long run, but solar won't get you off the grid any time soon.
"However, that being said, it makes no sense for a greenhouse because you want ALL the light to go in."Sigh. No you do not want "ALL the light to go in". How much direct sunlight you want or need in a greenhouse depends on how it is situated, climate, season, ventilation and how much natural shade it has. Many greenhouses get too much direct light and benefit from screening on the roof or sides. Many greenhouses do well with a solid, non glass roof. There are far too variables and you clearly aren't someone with a vast knowledge of horticulture. Your statement is the thing that makes no sense.
@duffmanMost homes are empty during the day. Your AC/Heating SHOULD be set to higher/lower temperatures respectively. Your TV's are not on. Your appliances are not on. the power consumption for a house is LOWEST during typical work/school hours and between 10pm - 6am. Yes, you should have surplus power.
Another project Mr. Begly is into is Free Solar Gear which is a very interesting program:Citizenrē REnU program packages solar power for you in a simple and smart way. Plainly put, the Citizenrē Corporation pays for, installs, owns and operates the solar installation. You don’t have to worry about maintaining the equipment or any of the other concerns that come with making an investment into solar power. All you are required to do is pay for the electricity generated from these panels, at a fixed rate that is at or below your current electricity price, for up to twenty-five years. Free Info at: www.FreeSolarGear.com
Nuclear power plants are far from clean. Radiation leaks are documented at almost every facility. Uranium extraction requires lots of diesel equipment. Storing waste in secure locations is totally unfeasible at this point. Yucca Mountain doesn't really make any sense and neither does onsite storage. Nukes have some advantages over fossil fuel technology but that is like saying one broken arm is better than two.
Closed AccountFeb 20, 2007
My house runs on a Solar !!!!!...so I cant turn it off :(
tobleronianFeb 21, 2007
Great news. If this stuff takes off and is as easy and cheap to produce as they say, as well as being waterproof and fairly durable it could shift the entire energy sector in a matter of a few years.It should be made standard for every new house to have its roof covered in the stuff... which according to this article would render that house energy self sufficient :)Think about it... electric cars havn't taken off because they lack the range of standard cars (they're also kinda pricey). If they built electric cars with the same kinda motors as those Tesla Roadsters, but cheaper heh... and pasted a load of that film on the roof... we may never again have need for refueling stations. However they could have depots within petrol stations that charge cars also.What I'd like to know is.. IF that all happened within the next ten years, on a worldwide scale.. for houses and transport. So the amount of greenhouse gases being produced was cut by a large margin... what would happen to the environement... What would happen if we just stopped producing ANY greenhouse gases. Its a model thats not really been thought through. Everyone's just assumed the world would be all happy and good.
guyveriiFeb 21, 2007
This kind of stupidity has been coming out for thirty years now.
duffman5Feb 22, 2007
@drmangrum"What if the surplus energy from the film was used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis? The hydrogen could then be used to power a generator."You expect there to be surplus energy? That'll take a lot of solar panels. There are thermodynamic limits on the efficiencies of solar panels, so a given area (i.e. your roof) has a maximum amount of energy it can produce if filled with solar cells. I know someone with his entire roof covered, and he can barely keep the lights on and the place heated. Don't expect to disconnect from the grid if you want to be able to run your computer, router, tv, and dishwasher at the same time--especially if you're banking on having surplus energy.Search to buy some solar panels online, and you'll find some that give you 50-100 W for a few hundred dollars. I don't know about yours, but my computer alone takes 450 W, without the monitor, router, cable modem, printer, etc. Maybe you'll save some money on electric bills in the long run, but solar won't get you off the grid any time soon.
siszamFeb 22, 2007
"However, that being said, it makes no sense for a greenhouse because you want ALL the light to go in."Sigh. No you do not want "ALL the light to go in". How much direct sunlight you want or need in a greenhouse depends on how it is situated, climate, season, ventilation and how much natural shade it has. Many greenhouses get too much direct light and benefit from screening on the roof or sides. Many greenhouses do well with a solid, non glass roof. There are far too variables and you clearly aren't someone with a vast knowledge of horticulture. Your statement is the thing that makes no sense.
wolfkeeperFeb 22, 2007
I for one welcome our powerful new photonic overlords.Oh wait did I say that out loud? :-)
drmangrumFeb 22, 2007
@duffmanMost homes are empty during the day. Your AC/Heating SHOULD be set to higher/lower temperatures respectively. Your TV's are not on. Your appliances are not on. the power consumption for a house is LOWEST during typical work/school hours and between 10pm - 6am. Yes, you should have surplus power.
szembekFeb 26, 2007
Vaporware bitches. Vaporware, vaporware, vaporware! It'll always cost more than it's worth.
dancurranjrSep 16, 2007
Another project Mr. Begly is into is Free Solar Gear which is a very interesting program:Citizenrē REnU program packages solar power for you in a simple and smart way. Plainly put, the Citizenrē Corporation pays for, installs, owns and operates the solar installation. You don’t have to worry about maintaining the equipment or any of the other concerns that come with making an investment into solar power. All you are required to do is pay for the electricity generated from these panels, at a fixed rate that is at or below your current electricity price, for up to twenty-five years. Free Info at: www.FreeSolarGear.com
surfspikeMar 25, 2008
Solar power costs are really the only thing thats been stopping large scale integration, the technology is well proven and effective. I can see no "good" reason why we should not all be using this technology in some of its forms!<a class="user" href="http://www.energyconservation.org.uk/solar-lighting-uk/">http://www.energyconservation.org.uk/solar-lightin ...</a>
chitownenergyJul 1, 2008
Nuclear power plants are far from clean. Radiation leaks are documented at almost every facility. Uranium extraction requires lots of diesel equipment. Storing waste in secure locations is totally unfeasible at this point. Yucca Mountain doesn't really make any sense and neither does onsite storage. Nukes have some advantages over fossil fuel technology but that is like saying one broken arm is better than two.