Article Link: http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/google-invests-an-additional-75-million-in-residential-solar-power.html?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29
Article Author: Michael Graham Richard
Picture: This picture shows a house that has its whole roof covered in solar panels. If you get solar panels, you do not need to cover your entire roof like this house, but this house is particularly being very environmentally friendly.
Summary: Google has recently decided to take some of their excessive money and put it in environmentally friendly projects. They have spend $280 million on solar energy in the past and now they are taking it to your homes. Google is leasing solar panels to customers for their homes. The $75 million dollars are going to help 3,000 homeowners make the switch to solar power. This is really great because the hardest part for homeowners to purchase solar energy systems is the cost for the panels. This is partially because there are not a lot of resources for financial help when it comes to going solar. In this case, Google owns the solar panels and the homeowners pay Google monthly which costs less than doing it by yourself. Solar panels are a safe investment for companies so there could be others that follow in Google's path.
Opinion: This is a really great thing that Google is doing to help the planet. It is a little ironic that they are a technology company, yet they still care enough to help the environment. Especially through alternative energy. Also, $75 million is a lot of money. When the article said that this is enough for 3,000 homes (which is also a lot), it means that they spend about $25,000 per home. Which is also a lot. It is also really great that they are taking a tremendous amount out of the company for this. Although, it is an investment, but one that that takes a while to get back which is why it could effect the company a little bit. Overall, it is great to hear that a major company, such as Google, is setting an example for many other companies. Who knows, maybe we will hear about more companies that will follow Google and do the same thing.
Questions:
- Would you ever think of Google doing this type of thing?
- Have you heard of any other companies doing something similar to this?
- Are you a personal fan of solar power? Why or why not?
- Do you know anyone that has solar panels? If so, what do they say about them?
- Where do you think would be the best and/or worst place (in the US) to own solar panels? Why?
Opinion: This is a really awesome thing that Google is doing to help the planet! I agree with Tal, when I read this I also thought it is a little ironic that Google is a technology company, but they are still trying to make a difference to help the environment, especially through an alternative energy like solar power. I also agree that $75 million is a lot of money! It’s incredible they were generous enough to spend approx. $25,000 per family! I think this is a good way to take a step in the right direction, and I think Google will quickly become a role model for other companies to help the environment too, whether it’s with energy, water contamination, or habitats . This article actually was relatable to my life because my dad works in an international French company, and his company sets a team building exercise every year to find new ways to give back to the community. This past year everyone in the company stopped using fertilizer on their lawns, and for the upcoming New Year they will be deciding what the new exercise should be!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businesspundit.com/25-big-companies-that-are-going-green/
The link that I have put above goes to a list of companies that are in the process of helping the planet! These companies are not helping people like Google is, but they are making changes within the company to benefit the environment.
Answers!
Would you ever think of Google doing this type of thing?
I don’t know if I would expect Google to do it but I do think it’s a very nice thing they are doing.
Have you heard of any other companies doing something similar to this?
I have provided a link to some other companies that are in the process of helping the environment, but not in the exact same way as Google has portrayed.
Are you a personal fan of solar power? Why or why not?
Yes! I think it’s a great way of getting the power you need, without harming anyone or thing.
That is awesome! It is so smart of google to let people lease solar panels from them. I think by doing this, more people would be willing to use solar panels. I also think that because a big well known company like Google is doing this then using alternative energy sources will be better known.
ReplyDeleteANSWERS:
1) I never really thought that google would do something so giving. Not to say that they aren't giving but when I think of google, the last thing that comes to mind is communtiy service.
5) I know for a fact that you wouldn't want to have them in the state of Washington because it is almost always cloudy and rainy.
QUESTIONS:
1) How much do you have to pay?
I think this is a great thing that Google is doing for families and the environment. I agree with Tal when she said that they spend about $25,000 per home is a lot of money! But, it's all going to a great cause by helping the environment and going green! I would have never expected this from Google at all because they are such a big technology company! I would think that they could care less about the environment.
ReplyDeleteAnswers:
3) I think solar power is a great thing because it gives us the power we need and it is also saving the environment which is also a plus.
Questions:
1) How much would need to be payed back to Google each month?
2) Will Google help more than 3,000 homes or will it proceed to more?
This is a perfect idea and is greatly benefiting the environment and families.This seems like a ton of money, and it is to the common citizen, but in google's point of view it is just spare change. If other big companies started to do the same thing, our environment would be so much more eco friendly and we would have so many more resources!
ReplyDeleteanswer to #4, my neighbor has solar panels and usually complains about how much money they are. Although they are expensive she said she would never take them down.
answer to #3. I think solar power is the most realistic of the new energy resources. It is more efficient than wind because mostly everywhere gets a great amount of sunlight.
question: Do you think other companies contribute as much as Google does?