Lets get with the program (+pix)

(This is Jasmine writing) I have always been intrigued by solar power. In my mind I think, "who wouldn't love free, never ending power." The counter argument for solar power usually is that it takes too long to pay for itself to be worth it. The average amount of time for solar power to pay itself off is about 10 years in the U.S. OK, I think, that is a long time when you think about it in the now, but when you look at the big picture, 10 years is actually fairly short term. And as far as I know, most people plan on living another 10 years, meaning that they will be paying bills for another 10 years; and when the time comes that the solar power finally starts making money, you sure will be glad to have the extra dough in your pocket. Even if you don't plan on living in the same house for the next 10 years, you could sell it for more because whoever buys the house will never have to pay heating or electric bills. Now, the 10 year payoff is if you get the whole deal: electricity, water heating, everything. To heat water with solar power is actually pretty cheap and not that difficult to do.
      
It just baffles me that solar power is not more popular. What don't people understand about FREE?

Is it just Americans who don't grasp the concept? Ever since I have come to Turkey, I have been astounded by the number of dwellings that use solar power. Almost every building here uses the sun to heat their water. When I say nearly every building, I really mean every building. I have seen people who literally live in caves, have their solar water heaters just outside their "door". Turks living in the middle of nowhere with mud houses and thatched roofs have solar power too. Why is it that Americans don't think solar power is a good investment because it doesn't yield good returns, yet people in Turkey who live off of about $100 a week (Turkish minimum wage) find solar power a good investment? There is obviously something wrong with the U.S. system because solar power is very cheap here and everyone uses about the same setup. Our 18 story apartment building manages to provide everyone with hot water from solar power, using about the same system that one room houses in central Turkey use. In the U.S. a solar power set up can cost from 35-72 thousand dollars. How can solar companies in the U.S. charge these prices when the owner of our apartment paid about 25,000 dollars for a system that provides hot water for more than 70 people? Do U.S. companies have something the Turks don't that makes them more expensive? Do the American companies not understand that they will make more money if solar power is more affordable? If someone has the answer to this please email me because I just don't understand. 

[cave dwellers in Kapadokya using solar power]