Some Solar Panels Are Getting Hot
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 09.24.08
Image: Noah Berger for the New York Times
According to the New York Times, solar panels are now hot. Kate Galbraith writes how Glenda Hoffman had sixteen panels vanish from her roof in three separate burglaries. “I have a shotgun right next to the bed and a .22 under my pillow,” Ms. Hoffman said.
Keith Hoffman, pictured above, lost 58 panels, which will cost $75,000 to replace, from his office building in Santa Rosa.
Missing panels, Palm Desert.
The president of a solar installation company now recommends video cameras and alarms for their solar arrays. “This is the crime of the future,” He says. ::New York Times
In the Times' new blog about green business, Kate Galbraith notes that it could be dangerous:
“Solar panels are high voltage,” said Tom McCalmont, president of Regrid Power, a California solar installer who recently lost over $30,000 worth of solar panels to thieves — from his company’s own roof. “You’re doing something extremely dangerous and could be severely shocked,” he said.
That's why most of the thefts happen at night. ::Green Inc
More Thievery in TreeHugger
Organized Crime Goes Green : TreeHugger
Recycling is Hot : TreeHugger
Platinum Theft : More On Recycling's Dark Side : TreeHugger
Urban Mining: Philadelphia is Losing its Manhole Covers : TreeHugger
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
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- When Solar Panel Installation Goes Wrong: 5 Things to Avoid When Solar Powering Your Home
- One State Consumes Half the Energy Per Capita of the Other 49--Guess Who?
- How to Go Green: Alternative Energy
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