Cleanest energy source around, bar none.
All renewable energy sources have much good to offer, and we like them all. Solar, however, has a special place in our hearts because it is simply the cleanest, least impactful energy source around.
No moving parts. No noise. No mess. Tucked up on the roof, its somewhere between invisible and aesthetically pleasing.
It produces no emissions. Zero, zip, nada. The dominant technology is comprised mostly of silicon — the same element as sand — and manufacturing wastes have virtually no environmental or health impacts.
The amount of energy used to manufacture the panels is paid-back quickly. The National Renewable Energy Lab calculates the energy payback figure at 4 years for current technology, and projected to go to 2 years in the near future. The energy payback for thin-film technology in production right now is in the order of 3 years, projected to be 1 year in the near future.
If you want the cleanest energy source to also be the most prevalent, then join us.