I did a number of promotional films for Phelps Dodge Copper back in the 80's and in Phoenix we did a film about the Solar Hot Water Heating systems available thru Sears stores. It seemed a smart idea considering the cost of electricity (even back then) to heat and maintain 50 gals of hot water. One guy was using his system to provide hot water for bath, clothes washing and also to heat his Jacuzzi water.

We were at MIT Lincoln Labs covering Photovoltaics and even then they were skeptical about using them for any serious direct supply of the grid, their idea was recharging conventional batteries (lead acid) or Gel Cells (Lithium was not even an antidepressant back then, just a word used on StarTrek).

Anyway I just got my LEED cert for running this Platinum level Green building job. sure looks nice on the wall, but really the Green is mostly in design of insulation, building control systems, recycling of materials and wastewater treatment and reuse.