Why Are We Not Extensively Using Solar Energy?

I read an interesting article yesterday wherein a big college in Manila has opted to use solar energy to power their school's electricity consumption.  Now that is a very good idea! And that a nun had the initiative to really implement it shows that the religious need not be traditional thinkers! 

Well, the school uses two technologies - the use of solar thermal collectors and of absorption chillers.  According to DCI, the one who installed it, the solar double wall vacuum tubes, which look like fluorescent lamps, are installed on the rooftop of the building - absorbing the sunlight and traps the heat. 

The energy is then transferred through pipes and stored in thermal storage tanks which are like a big version of a thermos.  The hot water then goes to the absorption chillers and to the cooling tower which dispense the cold air to the fan units installed on each of the 16 rooms of the building.  Apparently the tubular solar panels are more effective in absorbing and trapping in the sun's heat.

Now this type of set-up is perfect here since we have a lot of sunny days!  And worse, our electricity bills are continuously rising.  If only, we can implement this, we can slash our electricity bills a lot.  The school used to pay more than a million pesos on electricity.  Not anymore.  Wise ladies!