According to a recent study, 80% of over a thousand American respondents think all new home construction from now on should include some sort of solar energy systems. Once informed of the higher resale value that homes with solar systems can have, 2/3 of those surveyed said they’d expect to pay more money for such a home, a would do so willingly; what’s more, 1/2 of those surveyed said they’d even be willing to pay a 10% premium on for homes with solar energy systems built-in.

Solar Water Heaters: People living in warm climates and freezing climates alike can now enjoy the benefits of solar water heating. Though the technologies are slightly different depending on whether there’s ever a freeze lasting longer than a night or two, solar hot water is a viable option wherever a person may reside.

Solar Shingles: By all appearances, these look like ordinary shingles, but look closer and you’ll see that they’re actually thin-film solar cells. The amorphous silicon material used in these shingles is reported to be even more effective at collecting sunlight than regular solar panels while still being strong enough to be used as a roofing material. They’re installed in an overlapping pattern, just like regular shingles, thus providing the same level of weather protection. The wires run underneath a plywood roof deck that protects the house from the intense heat these solar shingles absorb, and the shingles are held in place by a glue-like EVA compound that is activated by heat.

Recreational Solar Kits: The average Joe and Jane consumer can purchase complete solar kits that come with everything one needs to get solar power up and running in their RV’s, weekend/seasonal cabins, and boats. Your typical solar kit will include:

• 1 or more photovoltaic modules (solar panels)

• Mount (such as a flush mount rack or a pole top fix rack)

• Charge controller

• Safety disonnect

• Fuses

• Fuse box and/or circuit breaker

• and in some cases, a storage battery

Solar/Stellar Battery: Russian scientists have developed a battery that captures solar energy itself without the need for an external panel or collector. A true 21st century innovation, it also collects energy from stars, regardless of meteorological conditions.

New Materials: We touched on it in the above section on solar shingles, but thin-film solar cells deserve a repeat mention in any article on current trends in solar polar. This new, silicon-based thin-film technology adheres heat pumps and solar cells onto other surfaces, whether wood, drywall, glass windows, plastic – imagine the possible applications! This technology will vastly increase solar energy’s versatility and range of practical applications while vastly decreasing the associated costs. Other promising R&D efforts into newer and better materials for solar energy equipment includes solar cells made from titania nanotubes, natural dyes, lead and cadmium selenide nanocrysals, and everyday plastic.

21% of Venture Capital firms surveyed spent a combined total of $500 million on renewable energy start-ups, including many solar power companies. Nanosolar is a start-up company that uses materials based on nanotechnology to make solar systems more efficient. Energy Innovations is a company that uses mirrors that follow the sun installed on panels to collect solar power.

According to Clean Edge, a company that conducts independent research on clean technologies, reports that the market for solar energy has increased 55% from 2004 to 2005, and will further increase from an $11.2 billion industry to a $51.1 billion one come 2015. By 2015, the costs for grid electric power and solar power should be neck and neck.

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