On 2008-04-08, Jay Honeck wrote:
Back during the LAST "energy crisis" in the 1970s, solar collectors sprouted
on rooftops like daisies. Everyone wanted to harness all that "free"
energy.

What we soon discovered, however, is that it was far from free. The thermal
stress on all that black plastic soon reduced the collectors to cracked and
leaky junk -- and it was all ABOVE YOUR HOUSE so that the leaks did the most
harm to your home.

That's a classic example of a straw man argument - comparing 70s junk
with properly made stuff of 2008 with CE approval.

Incidentally, our roofs already stop water coming in, or it would be
very inconvenient when it rained. Modern solar collectors don't mean a
wholesale removal of the roof underneath them, just holes to allow the
mountings.

Now, you say, could these not be made more durable today? You bet they
could, but at a cost that would amaze you.

No, not really. The only 'cost would amaze you' items are solar
photovoltaic panels which ARE very expensive.

plumbing out of, no matter how much money you spend on it, there is one
truism that every long-term property owner knows to be true: Eventually, it
WILL leak.

One day these problems may be overcome. Until then, the natural gas
furnaces and water heaters will continue to be the most efficient choices.

Guess what, they leak too. I had to spend significant money on mine
after an internal steam leak corroded internal parts and caused it to
fail.

--
From the sunny Isle of Man.
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