New Technology Turns Windows Into Solar Panels 86
An anonymous reader writes "A start-up in Northern California is working on creating 'solar windows' that could act as solar panels at the same time as blocking sunlight from entering office buildings to reduce their energy needs."
Re:Light in on the subject (Score:4, Insightful)
This would be useful for a window that has the sun shining directly into it during the morning or afternoon; you only need so much light coming in!
About time (Score:4, Insightful)
I've only been hearing about this for, what, about 30 years. I imagine cost is the crucial factor, as otherwise some of those other startups would be ubiquitous now.
Even in this case, the article says "CEO Fink wouldn't reveal his system's cost per watt ," so I bet cost is still a factor.
Re:Light in on the subject (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Light in on the subject (Score:4, Insightful)
I'd be happy if we had a solar charger that worked well enough to charge my iPhone. :/ Tried a couple different brands and they were all awful.
One day...
and it's my opinion that the biggest barrier to solar panel adoption in the United States right now are homeowner associations. My worthless HOA forbids solar panels. (Sadly, it is legal for them to do so under state law.. for now, Texas is trying to strip HOAs of that power)