Solar Isn't Free

I keep hearing about solar energy as the panacea to the energy crisis and our future. I wanted to relate my experience with solar energy as a caution to the rest.

I've always been fascinated with harnessing the sun's energy. After all, it can warm things so easily on a sunny day, why can't we turn this into some usable power?

Back in high school, I needed a scientific calculator. The only one that my school's bookstore sold was a Texas Instruments with all the features including trig, logs, exponential numbers and rads/grads. Clearly an essential for any geek learning math. It was solar, and years later, I still use the thing. Best fourteen bucks I ever spent, although it seemed somewhat expensive at the time.

A few years ago, I decided it was time for solar lights. After a little research, I ordered a set of 4 from Amazon. They were a brushed chrome and looked great, however looks can be deceiving. After two years, none of them were working. The metal was rusting, and it affected the batteries to the point that they didn't work. All four lights were in the garbage, and it was a waste.

Last year, I decided to not have a repeat, and I purchased a set of four solar lights from Target. Once again, they looked real nice, had a Japanese lantern design, and were made out of plastic to avoid the rust issue. I only put two out to start so I would have another pair in reserve. Good plan, right? Well, not really. After a few days, only one was working. Then it was none. I called the Brinkman company, and I was assured this was an isolated event, and I would be sent more. They did arrive, and they again were out within a week. Huh? Once again I complained and I was sent more. This repeated a few times to the point that the last time I called they had run out of the tops for this model, and would only send me more for the year warranty if I shipped what I had back. Faced with a $10 shipping bill, and a lousy track record, or putting it towards a cheap set of new solar lights from another manufacturer, I decided not to send good money after bad. Again, a total waste.

This year, I bought a set of Malibu lights. They're plastic, kinda cheap looking, and nothing special like my last two sets. They've been outside for a week, and so far they're still working. They were only $15, half the price of my previous two sets, so at least when they don't last it won't be as annoying.

My point of this is that while solar is an attractive option, and certainly can work well like in my calculator, before we bet the farm on it to power our future, clearly there needs to be some further evolution in dependability and cost. If my experience is any teacher, the future may not be solar for many folks. Maybe I'll look into that windmill again...

Jonas