Solar is Like a 1980’s Microwave Oven

I often feel solar today is like the microwave oven in the ‘80s. While we cannot imagine a kitchen today without a microwave, that was not the case in 1980. Even though the microwave was created in 1946 and made available for home use in the late 1970’s, people were very skeptical in the 1980’s.

There were concerns about food safety, personal safety and the overall need to have one in the home. These specific myths (also fears) are very close to the concerns people falsely have about going solar today. This is why our Mythbuster Team has been pushing out articles over the last few weeks as we jot down customer experiences we’ve had over the years.

Let’s take a look at the biggest rumor on microwave ovens:

The rumor: Zapping food in a microwave leaches out key nutrients
The verdict: If you do it right, cooking food in the microwave is one of the best ways to retain your food’s vitamins and minerals

Does any of this sound familiar?

Solar Mythbusters Episode #3: Solar Danger Part 1 – Toxic Fumes from Burning Solar Modules
Solar Mythbusters Episode #1: Solar Hurts Birds?
EMF From Solar Panels Cause Cancer

The myths on the dangers of microwaves also necessitated The NY Times and CNN to post debunking pieces:

The Claim: Microwave Ovens Kill Nutrients in Food
Does microwaving food remove its nutritional value?

Fast forward to 2006 where a Pew Research survey found that the only consumer products Americans considered more essential than the microwave were cars, washing machines, dryers, and air conditioning. There were more than 95 million microwaves in the US at the time, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. That same year, microwave sales topped $3.7 billion. Guess that myth was debunked.. just took a decade or so to gain steam.

Back to solar… well.. at least to another comparison. People need to have clothes, they need to have food and they need to sleep. These are things no one would question. Therefore people buy clothes, they buy food and they have a pillow… no questions asked. Does someone need a microwave? Well.. in 1980 the question was not a yes. In 2018 the question isn’t a question, it just has to be in the kitchen. Even hotel rooms at the lowest cost hotels have microwaves in the room.

Solar is still not a must have. People don’t wake up in the morning and say.. hey honey.. I think we should go buy some solar today. This just isn’t the case. That said, for those who are open to hear the solar message they experience significant financial savings while doing right by the environment. Everyone wins.

With industry milestones such as California Requiring Solar Power for New Homes, Governor Cuomo Announcing $1.4 Billion in Awards for 26 Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (the Largest Single Commitment to Renewable Energy by a State in U.S. History) and Governor Murphy Signing Measures to Advance New Jersey’s Clean Energy Economy we are seeing phenomenal support for solar based on years of successful implementation and experienced savings.

My hope is the next time you hear about solar you will think of it with the same fondness as your microwave. It’s here to help and its here to save you money. The time to put the myths aside is right now and so is it the time for you to be saving money.