I love solar. If the government would subsidize the production of solar panels so the cost matched roofing a house, most of us would be energy efficient. Design a roofing layer that produces power and the problem is solved. No offence. I envy your association with Sandia. Step back, make it simple and solve the problem.

James

I have no association with Sandia. DOE puts out a public email dealing with alternative energy. I simply visited their website and signed up.

I shared the call for proposals, which I got through the automated Public DOE email notification, because I thought that perhaps there might be someone with the interest and expertise to answer the request, but may not have known it was out there. I simply saw an opportunity to support the technology in some small way, and shared what had come my way. I have no other association with any of it.

I too support solar applications and hope that solar technology in general, will in the short term, "stand on its own." Where the return on investment will be such that the technology will be adopted based on cost vs return economics, not government subsidies.

I am still waiting for some entrepreneur engineers to bring to market (Lowe's, Home Depot etc) the kits needed for solar hot water and space heating. It still boils down to economics. When a reasonable return in the form of reduced utility bills can be expected from commercially available and reliable products, then I believe the consumer will buy into the technology.

As yet, I still don't see solar application in new construction, to say nothing of the retrofit market.

When the numbers crunch and the products are available at Lowe's and Home Depot, Bubba and I will be standing in line with our hard earned money.

Gavilan