Implementing Photovoltaic Panels and Thermal Water Heating

Sustainable Built Environments Senior CapstoneIn today’s society we are faced with many problems that result from the use of traditional energy sources. Due to the lack of efficient alternative energy sources we are consistently trying to produce technologically advanced methods and tools to offset our dependency on traditional energy systems that are harming the planet as a whole. Every great accomplishment needs a starting point. The University of Arizona is going to an influential success story that gets the ball rolling. Implementing two energy saving tools known as photovoltaic panels and thermal water heating units will allow advocates to see the benefits that can come from sustainable technology. Through state and federal incentives solar panels are able to pay themselves off over the years in a majority of the states. Without federal or state incentives, the solar panels would not save the consumer enough money to repay their initial investment. Thermal water heating units save the consumer enough money to pay themselves off over the years. Overall both thermal water heating units and photovoltaic panels provide a clean source of energy.This item is part of the Sustainable Built Environments collection. For more information, contact http://sbe.arizona.edu