I'd like to see mho of it too. Combine distributed collection and conversion along with low power lighting and appliances for an irresistible solution. I think it took way too long to adjust solar electrical technology to the point where it can be successfully deployed to the consumer base. LED lighting is enjoying a surge in advancement too.

For those of you who are not on the inside, there is a little joke offered by our esteemed member, Socolais. Mho is ohm spelled backward and is, mathematically, amps divided my volts rather than volts divided by amps.

It's amazing the proportion of engineers in this lifestyle. Some day soon rather than tripping the light fantastic, we will all be tripping the light-emitting diode fantastic.

I was wondering if anyone would catch that. Ohm is the unit of measurement for electrical resistance, Mho is the unit for conductance (even if the spell checker doesn't want to dance with it).

So you have seen the cost of solar power supplies (without subsidies) to actually be competitive for a northern climate?

Take advantage of any governmental help while it is available. A (reputable) roofing contractor can help, even if your "array" is not going to actually be put onto a roof. Of course the disreputable contractors will help too but what they are really trying to sell is not governmental subsidy but a loan which might be helpful unless you miss a payment -- even a single payment.

There are also several different ways of calculating pay-back time. They all seem to come back with a different figure. So call in more than one calculation. Compare figures and trust the most conservative figure.

The trick here is you are not going to try to run your whole house on solar power. Just sell what you "produce" back to the electric utility. That's a workable plan.

Yes I know about the govt subsidies and other help. What Im curious about is if the pay back time excluding subsidies is actually getting to the point where this makes any sense in a northern climate?

At this point I dont see it, not unless you are lucky and live in one of those areas where your utility has a buyback program that pays retail or higher rates for the excess power. (as happened in an area of wisconsin not too long ago)

MN Tom

Unfortunately, you will be hard pressed to find a power Co. willing to pay you what the average consumer pays per Kwh. It is a sad state. But, you could run a line to a neighbor's home if you have enough to power them as well. give them the old 1/2 price deal.

I am working with a friend of mine in the cration of a solar solution to my $400.00++ electric bills. Amking the colectors is not difficult but time consuming. The solar water collector is by far the easiest. The biggest issue is batteries! But, the over all cost will be recouped in time!

Good luck to anyone who is attempting to go green! Its fun, educational and most of all, cheap!

"Managing computer "professionals" is like trying to herd cats"

I happen to be one of these 'cats' you speak of. Hmm, I don't know whether to be insulted or just laugh. I choose laughter.

Had another run-in with the herd of cats today. One 'cat' sent a boadcast e-mail to all of the company's clients saying that you had to clear the cache in your Web browser to make an on-line video work properly. Another 'cat' follows with an e-mail to the same group of clients to say it's not true. Makes me absolutely crazy. I have a profound appreciation for things that I could touch and feel. Traps hidden in code make me nervous.

Our professional associate, Dan, is now the keeper of a Chevrolet Volt. The company purchased this automobile to be on part of a demonstration area at our place of work. My employer makes and sells solar panels, inverters, electric automobile charging stations and the like. Dan was thinking, what use is there in having charging stations if we don't have a car to charge.

So I've had my first chance to drive an electric car. My impressions: very, very fast acceleration but it feels a little cramped inside. I am accustomed to my Prius which has room for five people. The Volt has room, in theory, for four. But in practice two of the people, the two who sit in the back, have to be midgets. And if you enjoy the acceleration, don't overdo it. Dan and I raced up and down the street in front of the office but he tried to drive home that same afternoon and the battery gave up. It car has a little gasoline engine for re-charging the battery. It can also propel the car, sort of, about 100 mph downhill, 50 mph on a straightaway, and about 30 mph up a hill.

An interesting experience, in any case. My taste of the future.