Solar Energy and Marketing

With all the recent talk of global warming, companies that deal with technology and IT are now looking for alternative sources of energy to power their products. Solar energy is one of the alternatives that is being explored in a serious way. Solar energy is already being used in gadgets and appliances like calculators, ovens, water heaters, etc., and now companies are aspiring to use solar energy for powering computers. Given the fact that we will never run out of energy from the sun, it seems only natural to try and utilize this renewable source of energy in an efficient manner. The basic idea is to use solar panels that would trap the heat from sunlight and convert it into energy that would help power a system as and when required.

One of the major challenges for the makers of any solar-energy-based product will be to convince the public about it. As noted in an article from the New York Times, consumers are rarely happy to give up their old habits. They have not, thus far, proven very willing to spend on products that run on solar energy. There could be many factors responsible for such reluctance. One of those factors could be the issue of the durability. To give one example cited in the Times article, people are not always happy to replace their regular water heaters with modern solar ones. This is understandable given that we all, as consumers, want the best of both worlds: we want long-lasting products but at an affordable price. With appliances that run on solar energy, however, there is little data to indicate how well such products will work in the long run. As such, consumers in general are still more likely to buy a product powered by a traditional energy source than one powered by solar energy.

There is little doubt, however, that in the long run the average consumer would save more money by purchasing solar-powered products. Appliances powered by solar energy are likely to reduce utility bills overall, and yet consumers, for the most part, are still not showing any signs of acceptance. The fact that it can currently cost thousands of dollars to install any solar-powered product is presumably one of the biggest deterrents. As of now, statistics show that on average solar energy would cost $10-12 per watt to power a household. These costs can often be reduced, however, through state incentives.

Another factor impeding the widespread use of solar power is the simple inconsistency of the weather in many areas. Weather changes can have a direct impact on any solar-energy-based system. Imagine one of those grey days when the sun is not out — a solar panel is rendered useless on such days, something that would not be greatly appreciated by a consumer. And if you happen to be in a region where sunny days are a luxury, then using solar energy would obviously not be a wise move.

Clearly, before companies can start marketing solar-powered products, they need to spread a general awareness about the nitty-gritty involved in the typical installation process and provide a clear understanding of how solar power works and why it should rightly be considered a more economical source of energy.

In other words, companies still have a long way to go before they can take a full plunge into solar energy and convince consumers to take the plunge with them.

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Solar Energy and Marketing