Achieving Energy Efficiency: Are Solar Panels Still A Good Choice?
Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by keith in Sustainable Building
Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels were one of the first forms of futuristic energy efficient technology. When they hit the market in the 1970’s, PV panels were expensive (roughly $450 a panel) and had a poor energy conversion rate (roughly 10 percent). Today, however, PV panels cost significantly less and have at least double the conversion rate of original panels. Even so, solar panels often go unmentioned in discussions about energy efficient design, which can cause one to wonder if retrofitting HVAC systems and interior lighting systems and improving building envelopes aren’t more efficient measures toward achieving the highest level of utility cost savings.
In one sense, this perception is true. When a building consumes lots of energy, it makes more sense to concentrate on reducing its power consumption than it does to find a less expensive way to feed the consumption. Therefore, a large commercial building will almost always take measures such as downsizing its HVAC components in tandem with improving its building envelop and retrofitting its interior lighting system in tandem with implementing automatic light dimmers before it considers implementing PV panels. But this doesn’t mean that PV panels have become a second rate choice for energy efficiency.
Instead, it simply means that PV panels now make the most sense when implemented to supply power to energy efficient technology. Using PV panels to support inefficient technology will still reduce your electric bill. But using them to support efficient technology can eradicate an electric bill, especially in buildings that don’t feature heavy-duty industrial machines. Like other energy efficient technology, PV panels are becoming increasingly efficient, with models that offer a 30 percent conversion rate soon to hit the market. Even if your energy efficiency plans focus on retrofitting your existing systems, it’s important to consider PV panels as way to increase your cost savings following the retrofitting.
