Solar technology is coming along.
Really, if you think about it, solar panels don't suck. If you live in a sunny enough environment you can power your entire house with solar energy. In the summertime with the excess of sunlight, the energy is stored until it is needed in the winter time when there is less sun.
Infact, there is a community being a built just outside Calgary in which all heating will be done by solar energy. The energy drawn from the panels is put into a storage unit which in turn gives out power as its needed. Their even heating a pool, arena and recycling center.
http://www.town.okotoks.ab.ca/solar/DrakeLanding.html
there's even a corny video about it:
http://www.okotoks.ca/images/Drake%20Landing%20WMP9.wmv