Clean Air: Generating electricity with no pollution. Reductions in CO2, NO2, SO2. An average 2 kW system will save 85,576 lbs in CO 2 emissions-the leading greenhouse gas, 164 lbs. in NO2 emissions-which creates smog, and 438 lbs. in SO2 emissions-which causes acid rain.

Environment: Helping to preserve the Earth’s finite resources by obtaining electricity from a renewable resource.

Hedge against future electricity rate increases: less vulnerable to rate hikes, trending 6% or more each year.

National Security: removing our reliance on the purchase of oil from Middle Eastern, and in some cases, hostile, countries.

Peak Energy Shaving: Overall reduction in Peak Energy Use/ Peak Shaving. The owner of the PV system is not the only beneficiary. The ability of PV to generate more power during times when the sun drives higher air-conditioning usage means that the cost of peak power is reduced. Because PV systems produce the most power in the summer – when the electric system operates at its peak – it benefits all electric users by reducing the demand, and ultimately the need for expensive and polluting peaking generators.

Reliability: a solar system can provide power during an electric outage.

Corporate Standing: Solar PV can have a legitimate positive influence on the image with which people and consumers form of a company. The public relations gain is a tangible advantage.

Photovoltaics (PV) is a renewable, clean, and universal power source. The modern PV cell was developed in the mid-1950s by Bell Labs. Shortly thereafter, it powered our first space satellites. After several decades many of these PV-powered systems are still operational, a testament to the reliability of this power source.

Typically, modules are attached as panels onto an existing roof or are designed directly into the roof (known as “building-integrated photovoltaics”) so they act as both a part of the roof or shingles and a solar module at the same time. New technology surrounding thin film solar cells use layers of semiconductor material only a few micrometers thick. Thin film technology has made it possible for solar cells to be integrated into roofing structures, such as roof shingles, tiles, building facades, or the glazing for skylights or atria.

The performance of a solar cell is measured in terms of its efficiency at turning sunlight into electricity. Only sunlight of certain energies will work efficiently to create electricity, and much of it is reflected or absorbed by the material that make up the cell. Because of this, a typical commercial solar cell has an efficiency of 15%. This represents progress in the technology, as the first solar cells had efficiencies of less than 4%. In addition, some experimental PV cells now convert nearly 40% of the energy in light to electricity. For comparison, a fossil fuel generator has an efficiency of about 28%.

The most significant portion of the cost of PV electricity comes from the upfront cash outlay with the initial purchase and installation of the solar PV system. Buying a PV system can be looked at as paying many years worth of electric bills all at once. The initial cost of a PV installation is recovered through the substantial savings in electricity costs over the life of the product. Several states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, California, etc., have residential and commercial solar funding programs that subsidize the cost of a solar installation. With these financial incentives, a 60% reduction in upfront costs can be gained. At the federal level, the recently passed Energy Bill of 2005 provides a significant tax credit for homeowners and businesses that install solar PV.