Regardless of your belief in anthropogenic climate change, you probably are interested in cleaner energy sources. You surely want to save money, and be in charge of your own energy usage. You may have some fundamental issues with solar panels, such as the high cost, the pollution created from their production, the blight on the landscape from solar farms, the killing of insects and birds, and many others. Even leftist environmentalists have problems with solar once it actually comes time to build it. Well, how about a different idea?
(Yahoo) If you’re looking to install new solar panels in your home, why not consider those created by the aptly-named SolarWindow Technologies, which transform regular windows into solar panels that are up to 50 times more efficient than the regular photovoltaics you’d attach to a roof? (snip)
This is where SolarWindow comes into play. As the term “regular windows†suggests, users don’t have to replace the existing windows in their home, but need only treat them with a special process developed by the company.
“We apply liquid coatings to glass and plastic surfaces at ambient pressure, and dry these coatings at low temperature to produce transparent films,†Conklin continued. “We repeat these processes, and then collectively these coatings — and thus the glass and plastic surfaces — generate electricity.â€
Of these coatings, the most important is the so-called “Active Layer,†through which electricity is generated by the absorption of light, and the transparent conductors, which allow the electricity to be extracted. “[The] coatings are primarily organic, primarily from carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen,†Conklin said. “We are constantly refining each of the layers to improve on the power we’re able to extract from these coatings and enhance their manufacturability.â€
Seems interesting, does it not? They mention putting it on car windows, mirrors, and sunroofs. Of course, one of the problems would be the slight to moderate darkening of windows, decreasing sunlight coming in. But, if it could supply lots of energy at a low cost, decreasing your reliance on the power grid, would it be worth it?
What are your thoughts? The article comments have some big pro and con messages.
