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raymor · 12-31-2011, 01:07 AM

[QUOTE=Caligari;18660026]wrong. not every 10 years. solar panels on average have a lifespan of 20-25 years.

You have batteries that last 20-25 years?!?! patent that shit! That's what puerile forever about solar power - the batteries cost more than the panels, and pollute more. As far as solar panels, the manufacturers of solar panels claim that they retain 90% of their capacity for ten years, 80% for fifteen years, and 60% for twenty years. So only if a) you believe the manufacturer isn't being the least bit optimistic and b) you're happy with getting held of the tasted output could you ever get 20 years out of photovoltaics.

You like solar. You wish everyone could use it. Great. The first step in getting solar used more is to have an understanding of how it can actually be used. I like Linux. I promote Linux. I don't go around saying that Linux is compatible with more games than Windows is because when people found out I was lying that would HURT the reputation of Linux. Same with solar. If you want to promote solar, be intellectually honest about it and promote it to people living in south Florida. Saying it's viable in New Hampshire hurts your cause, as does claiming that solar manufacturers are lying and their product lasts twice as long as they say it will, or claiming that a $25,000 solar system and three sets of fifteen batteries each is cheaper than paying your electric bill.

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once again, who is ignoring arsenic and lead? safe recycling is the key.

Look up how much arsenic, cadmium, and other toxic metals are released during the MANUFACTURING if the panel. You may be able to recycle the dead panel in 10-15 years, but that's too late because before you even take them out of the box you've already poisoned the planet during the manufacturing process. You might decide that you'd rather have arsenic pollution than carbon dioxide pollution and that's a perfectly logical decision. You can't intelligently make that decision as long as you pretend that recycling the panel afterwards will undo tbe release of toxins, though.

I'm a former member of Greenpeace. I'm all about protecting the environment. I just think that to ACTUALLY protect the environment we have to be honest with ourselves rather than being a fanboy, picking something our team likes and pretending it's perfect.