Local News
Taking a fresh look at solar energy's benefits
KYLE D. BRONSTEIN
Published: February 24, 2013
With the anxiety and concerns we all have about what is happening in our country, coupled with confusion, misinformation and doubt where our economy is headed, it's clear that something has to change.Published: February 24, 2013
Despite an improving and more favorable unemployment rate currently at 7.9 percent, energy costs continue to rise as non-renewable fuel sources become depleted and demand has increased in developing countries.
Both small and large businesses are going bankrupt. Our trade deficit is out of balance as we are flooded with cheaply-made foreign products. And property values are down forcing cities, counties, states and the federal government to not only reduce the level and quality of services, but they now spend the majority of their legislative time trying to figure out how to be more creative with taxes and fees to extract what's remaining of our hard-earned dollars.
Albert Einstein said, "We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive." Although there is no easy fix for any single problem facing our country, there are certain, easy steps we all can take that, over time, could make a positive and substantial impact.
Believe it or not, there is one small step every U.S. homeowner — and especially homeowners in Florida — can take that will have a direct impact on each of these problems, and that is solar energy.
Countries such as Germany and Spain are light years ahead of the United States in the race for energy independence.
Germany currently has 9,785 megawatts of solar-powered energy installed, Spain has 3,386 megawatts and the United States is chasing the leaders with a mere 1,650 megawatts.
Just how big is a megawatt? Here's an easy electrical energy primer: one megawatt equals 1,000 kilowatts and one kilowatt equals 1,000 watts of energy.
Breaking it down, a megawatt is a million watts of electricity. Just one megawatt of solar energy will offset 52,500,000 pounds of greenhouse gases and is the equivalent to planting 22,276 trees.
Despite being currently behind the renewable energy curve, business titans in America, including Google, Wal-Mart, TD Bank, MetLife Stadium, McDonalds and countless others are joining the green energy movement.
Large corporations have already learned that renewable energy is the only solution for our energy needs for the present and in the future.
It is no longer a question of if it makes sense for our environment and economy as a whole, but does solar energy make fiscal sense to individual homeowners, business owners, legal and medical professionals and nonprofit organization managers?
The facts speak for themselves. With a recent drop in the price of materials and with numerous incentives available, there is a 52-percent return on investment in the first year. After that, a 100-percent return on investment in less than six-and-a-half years. Add in the availability of 25-year warranties on 100-percent American-made products and you will reap the benefits of energy independence for decades to come, while greatly increasing profit margins in your business and budget savings.
For every 10 kilowatts of solar power installed you will have saved a guaranteed $99,895 in electricity costs for 25 years.
And, returning to unemployment, every 100 megawatts of solar energy installed creates an average of 200 full-time jobs.
For more information on solar energy, contact Coronado Solar at 381-6083 or 214-3581.
They will provide you with site analysis so you can learn if you are the right candidate for solar energy, and will also show you what size system would be needed to "zero out" your electric bill.