| During the 1970s in a number of countries around | | | | have increased dramatically over the course of |
| the world, a push began to install solar energy | | | | the past several years. The net result of this |
| panels on private residences. Many experts | | | | tremendous cost increases has been to make |
| contended that solar energy, including solar energy | | | | alternative energy resources - including solar |
| incorporated into residential property, was to be | | | | power - far, far more cost effective. Therefore, |
| the proverbial wave of the future. In reality, the | | | | many people are now turning (or returning, as the |
| early movement towards solar energy somewhat | | | | case may be) to solar homes because these |
| sputtered during the latter part of the decade and | | | | types of residences have become cost effective |
| into the 1980s. A primary concern associated with | | | | in the current marketplace. |
| solar homes centered on the fact that many | | | | While many people are hoping that the costs |
| consumers ended up finding that the installation | | | | associated with petroleum, coal and natural gas will |
| and utilization of solar power systems into their | | | | drop sooner rather than later, most industry |
| homes was not proving particularly cost effective. | | | | experts and financial analysis predict that this |
| Since the advent of the 21st century, there has | | | | probably won't be the case. Therefore, research |
| been a significantly profound renewed interest in | | | | and development is becoming more intense when |
| solar energy generally and in solar homes | | | | it does come to alternative energy resources |
| specifically. The "rebirth" of the trend towards the | | | | such as solar homes. Moreover, consumer |
| construction of more solar homes and towards | | | | demand for alternative energy resources, including |
| the retrofitting of existing residential properties | | | | residential property that relies on solar power, is |
| with solar systems has occurred for two primary | | | | increasing markedly. These are companion |
| and essential reasons. | | | | long-term trends that are expected to continue |
| First, an increasing segment of the media has | | | | into the future. |
| become concerned with the impact that carbon | | | | With this in mind and understood, many financial |
| based energy sources are having on the | | | | experts and analysts are suggesting with |
| environment, on the planet. As a consequence, | | | | increasing regularity that making investments in |
| there are an ever growing number of people who | | | | such alternative energy resources such as solar |
| are making a concerted effort to make their living | | | | homes is a wise course to take. These analysts |
| spaces far more environmentally friendly. From | | | | maintain that the days are long gone when an |
| recycling to the use of alternative energy | | | | investment in solar home technology was |
| resources such as solar power, more men and | | | | considered speculative at best. Rather, |
| women all of the time are becoming committed | | | | investments in such alternative energy resources |
| to establishing and maintaining homes that are | | | | such as solar homes is considered to be a sound |
| more environmentally friendly. | | | | course which will allow for the realization of |
| Second, the costs associated with petroleum, coal | | | | significant profits in both the short and the long |
| and natural gas as primary sources of power | | | | term. |