Why is there a Lack of Support for Solar Power?

Despite being a clean, renewable energy source, solar power has not caught on with homeowners. Even homeowners who have a strong sense of environmental responsibility and who want to be "eco-friendly" find it difficult to incorporate solar home heating into their homes. Why a lack of support for solar power? It's primarily due to one factor: cost.

The cost of purchasing and installing solar panels can be too much of a challenge for the average homeowner. And even when government subsidies are available, they are too small to make any real difference. It's true that solar powered systems -- even a smaller system, such as solar water heating -- are capable of providing the energy needs for a home, the initial investment is daunting... particularly when it takes many years to recoup that investment before you can start drawing energy for free.

Another issue is the efficiency of solar cells. Maximum efficiency is somewhere around 40% - but so many factors can affect it, like the amount of sunlight you get, dirty panels, shade from trees or buildings, etc. The lower the efficiency, the more panels you need to generate the amount of energy required for your home. And the more panels you need, the higher the cost.

It's possible to find used solar panels on the market. The issue is that because it's a relatively new product for homeowners, people don't usually know how to "shop for" solar panels. They don't know what questions to ask or what problems to look for, so for "peace of mind", many would prefer to buy solar panels new. And obviously, new panels cost much more than used ones.

It's also possible to build your own solar panel to save money. But for people who are not "do-it-yourself" types, the idea can be intimidating.

Finally, another reason why there's a lack of support for solar power comes down to convenience. Simply, electricity is readily available to millions of homes. It's simple to sit back and enjoy this easily accessible source of energy. Solar energy is a "green" alternative and one many homeowners would love to try -- but until technology improves and costs come down, it is likely to remain out of reach for the majority of homeowners.