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Three Things to Take into account Before Shopping For Solar Panels-How You Can Be An Informed Buyer

By: Jason Livingston

There is a lot of talk in relation to solar energy being a way out for the world's energy problems. But wouldn't it be prudent to know if there are any dangers or hidden negative issues before starting a big project? Here are 3 things to think about before you spend your money:

1) Poisonous materials. Some of the materials used in the newer thin film solar panels are lethal to the environment. Even though this only becomes a problem when you throw out the solar panels (which probably won't be for another 20 years or more), it's imperative to know that the panels will need nontoxic disposal when that time arrives. But new disposal and recycling methods are being researched and developed. With any luck they will be in place by the time you need to draw on them.
2) New Technology. If you read the news about solar energy research, you will be astonished at the number of companies that are developing new systems and products. Solar energy research is a global growth industry, with new discoveries being made each month. There is a real temptation to hold off on your solar energy project so you can use the latest technology. But not every new product with market potential actually makes it to the consumer. Solar panels are no different than any other new product in the process of research and development. Every now and then the best ideas just don't work out as expected, or are just too pricey to produce. So it's always a bit of a risk to wait too long for breakthroughs in new technology. You could be unnecessarily wasting several months or years of using your solar energy system.
3) Old Technology. Are you scared of buying your solar energy system right before the next new product revolution? This dilemma is the other side of the coin from waiting too long for a breakthrough. The concern is that a cheaper and better technology is right around the corner, but you just spent thousands on "old" technology.

You can do a lot to prevent this scenario by doing a little examination on the internet or the library. There are specialized business journals that have the latest news on industrial R and D (research and development), and forecast when new products will reach the consumer market. But many of these journals cost several hundreds or thousands of dollars for a yearly subscription, so only libraries can manage to pay for them. If your library doesn't subscribe, ask your librarian to get it for you. Then you'll need to come to a decision whether you want to wait for the newest product, or go with a conventional system that might be more reliable and predictable because it has withstood the test of time.

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