Solar Power May Finally Pay Off

For years, solar power has been deemed an excellent alternative energy source.  The problem was, however, that the solar cells were too costly.

But it looks like that's starting to change.

Just this week Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County added 22 solar panels to its roof after students helped raise $56,000 to improve the eco-friendliness of the building.

The laptops will be able to power 100 laptops at noon, according to the Washington Post.

Other schools in the area have added solar panels, including Sidwell Friends School, which has a environmentally friendly middle school building.

But the solar panels don't stop there.  The other top solar story emerged recently when Toyota announced that its 2010 Prius hybrid would include an optional solar panel moon roof.  The energy generated would run the ventilation fan and air conditioning system.  The Guardian describes it in more detail:

Even when the car is off and locked, these fans whir around, so when you step back into it you don't need to crank up the power-hungry air conditioning.


The option will cost about $2,000 more, but the base price of the Prius has actually decreased 12 percent from the previous model.

Read more about it here.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2347353,00.asp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/10/prius-cars-solar

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