Do Solar Products Really Help?
How good is solar as a renewable energy source? Solar and wind energy sources have been on the up and coming for years. In the Pacific Northwest, we have fields of solar collectors and windmill farms. I question how well solar panels and solar-powered products are for our planet. I see solar panel kits on the roofs of neighboring houses, but I wonder if they know the full pros and cons of solar power. It's no secret that the initial cost of solar panels is high and just to break even can usually take a minimum of 15+ years. Of course, this will vary with each setup. Additionally, you need to be located in an area that receives a significant amount of sunlight. What I think people might be unaware of, is properly disposing of solar panels. While the useful life of solar panels is around 25 years, they contain toxic metals and shouldn't just be tossed into the landfill with the rest of the garbage. Cadmium and lead are two extremely toxic metals commonly found in ...