Solar Panels are a great way to help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint, but many people feel that they are too expensive and look tacky.  In reality solar panels are becoming less expensive every year, with the average 5,000 watt solar panel system costing around 15,000 dollars to install. This seems expensive and unrealistic for many Americans, with the average household income being around 55,000 dollars. But actually, the price per kWh for residential solar power is now less than the price normal utility companies charge. Some energy companies will even pay part of your installation cost and continue to pay you money afterwards for supplying them with extra electricity. As for the concern about solar panels being tacky, new options such as photovoltaic slates lie flat on your roof and look more like normal slate roofing. These new solar panel slates cost about the same in price as conventional slate roofing. These innovations in the solar panel industry are making it much easier for the average American to have solar panels and reduce their impact on th e environment.
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Hi my name is Bryce from the United States, I think solar panels can be very beneficial but they are also expensive. Many people can not afford these costs because they would rather spend their money on gas and other things rather than spending their money on trying to reduce their footprint. On the topic of them looking tacky people need to realize that we need to save the environment and realize what can be causes of our carbon footprint

Jessica, I found your post very informative, as you addressed and explained two of the main reasons why we do not see more people in America buying solar panels--cost and appearance. I read more about these topics on the website for Solar World, which is the United States' largest solar manufacturer (http://www.solarworld-usa.com/solar-for … lar-energy). Another reason why solar panels are worthwhile in relationship to their cost is that installing solar panels creates extra electricity; therefore, people can save considerable amounts of money on their electric bill or even eliminate it all together. Even if they are expensive, I agree with you that solar panels are an advantageous investment. Some people may think they look tacky, but the design of solar panels can actually provide extra benefits, like the solar panels installed at my high school. The newly installed panels shade classrooms that normally receive direct sunlight, decreasing the temperatures in these classrooms, which results in a better learning environment for us students. Regardless  of the cost or appearance, I believe the main reason why solar panels are essential is that they substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions and thus slow the detrimental process of climate change. Solar panels are definitely a great way to reduce carbon footprints and positively impact the environment.

Hi Jessica! My name is Paulina !
I live on Mexico City, since I was a little girl I was surprised that we can use solar panels for creating energy, the bad thing is that they are expensive. I think government and the light industries should make a deal that if someone wants to have solar panels on her or his house they can help with a portion of the money. I think it would be like a business that they help you to buy it and you pay the light that you use to the company.
I also think that one day the prices will be lower but we don't know when and if we wait the planet will be on that time completely affected.