Artistream Energy, Inc.

Man’s use of solar power has been around for a long time (see the DOE’s solar timeline). Despite this long history, there has not been significant adoption of solar power until recent years. There are many decisions and circumstances that account for this historical marginalization of solar power usage but the primary factor has been the exploitation of cheap fossil fuels.

Mankind stands at a significant crossroads where the sources of the power we use today and in the future will have a dramatic impact on the life of this planet. The accumulated greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels has already altered weather patterns throughout the globe. As we continue to burn more of these fuels, planetary effects (which today are not completely understood) will accelerate.

Because of the accelerating environmental consequences of global power production, and the attention being paid to it, the case for solar power has never been better.

• Investment in new technologies has driven down the cost of solar equipment and created more options.
• Increased government focus has resulted in subsidies, grants, tax offsets and other monetary support for the installation and production of solar energy.
• A dedicated business infrastructure has evolved to deliver and service solar energy implementations.

Today companies and most individuals have a viable choice regarding how their power is produced. In many cases, it is more expensive in the long run to stay with fossil fuels than it is to switch to solar power. The biggest hurdle in many cases is the gathering of all the relevant information needed to make a proper decision. One of the reasons that Artistream Energy exists is to bridge this information gap and speed the education process.

If you are contemplating the implementation of a solar energy system, here are a few observations to keep in mind:

• Fossil fuels are finite in nature and eventually they will be exhausted if we continue to exploit them. The more the earth’s economies depend on fossil fuels for the generation of their power and the faster these economies grow, the faster these resources will be depleted.
• As these fossil fuel resources diminish, they will become increasingly expensive. The best example of the long term upward trend of fossil fuel prices is the current mining of tar sands and tar shale. These were long considered too expensive to exploit. However, with oil above the $60 a barrel average these resources are economically viable.
• Solar technology cannot be compared to computing technology. If you are waiting for the next generation of solar technology before you adopt it, then you are missing a huge opportunity. Unlike the next generation of computer technology (where you will receive greater bandwidth, more power, greater speed and new capabilities), the next generation of solar technology will make the same quality of electricity as it always has. Yes, the price per watt will most likely be lower but then so will the subsidies and tax benefits. In addition, you will have lost the benefits of producing your own clean energy during the intervening years.
• Solar energy produced onsite (close to the energy usage or load) is very efficient (5% – to 10% loss on average). In contrast, it takes 2.2 KW of energy to transport 1 KW of power from a centralized power plant to its end user.
• If your company or home gets all of its power from the grid, and continues this relationship, then you are in effect letting your utility (and the power companies that they do business with) decide the mix of fuels that will be used for power production in the future.

Solar technology is being implemented around the globe every day. Solar energy is proven, safe, clean, nearly inexhaustible and puts money in your pocket. If you have thought about solar energy for your business or home, now is a great time to implement.