Which do you think is expensive? A Solar Panel or a Monthly Electrical Supply?

Upfront the solar panel might be expensive to buy but I believe it pays for itself because you live off the grid. The solar panel heats the house with the sun and supplies . So you won't have an electrical bill. That works if you have alot of sun where you live, like in New Mexico. The sun shines about 293 days out of the year. I would love living off the grid

Actually, with the state of solar power thus far, I believe that the greatest efficiency is in the use of a combination of both..Granted, we have energy efficient products nowadays, these being the direct result of the solar craze of the 60's/70's and the way that the then standard power using appliances and such would rapidly drain any solar storage units. So, to make solar a more practical choice appliances had to be modified to work better with that energy source. As to why a combo of both..Tho' better than it had been in earlier days, solar power has not yet reached a level of effiency to make it a solitary choice. Solar power could be used, however, as a means of greatly reducing the Utility bills by using it for non-thermostat uses because it is that thermostat's on/off/on sequence that drains the storage supply quicker. Should the efficiency of the light to power conversion and/or the storage methods become more efficient, then solar all the way..Enjoy!

Having somebody build and install a solar system can be quite costly, but it's made up in electric bills in a matter of a year or so. If you're at all handy, solar panels are easy to construct and hook up, and cost very little!

I'll say I can not be quoted on this, but I believe after the initial cost of the solar panels, they would be less expensive and more environmentally friendly then a monthly electrical supply. From my understanding solar panels soak up sun and stores it for night use or when it's stormy and cloudy. I believe it powers lamps, and other things plugged into outlets. Though I do wonder how in winter the solar power is effective as in winter months the sun isn't as hot as in other months!

I think the better use solar panel because it can be for long life even though more expensive than electricity. We won't pay for monthly if we have that, so only pay first then use for everything without any fee. This method not yet available for my country, although we still using monthly electrical supply.

well a solar panel is better to use for environmental reasons but much more expensive initially. later on though i think it works out as being cheaper - they are also more efficient in some countries than others although the technology is improving very quickly. i think it is also likely that the price will go down as has happened with other new technologies as competition increases.