The survey found that people find it difficult to understand that solar electricity is of the same nature as the electricity they normally get from utilities.
‘As the world’s leading solar manufacturer, Sharp views this uncertainty as a strong reason for educating the public about the features and benefits of solar energy. It can power everything from air conditioning and computers to appliances and vacuums; consumers need to understand why it makes sense, both financially and for the environment,’ said Mr Ron Kenedi, VP of Sharp's Solar Energy Solutions Group.
The Japanese firm currently has an agreement with CitiMortgage to provide homeowners with means to purchase solar facilities taking advantage of a home equity program.
The obvious question is: are Americans willing to pay for it?
The answer is: yes. Increasingly, Americans are willing to pay some extra money for cleaner technologies, just as the good results of hybrid cars show. As solar prices drop even further, we will see a big increase in the number of solar roofs throughout the country, which will lower the prices even further due to economies of scale. In some years we will surely see how the headline is "90% of new homes feature solar energy".
In order to achieve this, however, America should offer incentives such as the ones being on offer in some European countries, where solar energy is mandatory for certain types of buildings.
For additional information:
