Domestic energy assessors
could help develop the photovoltaics of the future as well as recommend them to their customers.

Researchers at Harvard University and IBM are to use the power of a million idle computers around the globe to find materials to make solar panels more cost-effective.

Using computers of people around the globe, the scientists hope the calculations to find the new organic materials will take two years instead of 22 years.

They are looking for a combination of materials that would allow them to manufacture plastic photovoltaic cells that are cheaper than existing silicone-based cells.

Already plastics can be used to make photovoltaics but they are not as efficient.

"It is not now cost efficient, although the materials are cheap because it's plastic," said Alan Aspuru-Guzik, a chemistry researcher at Harvard University.

The researchers will use spare power on the computers of a million volunteers.

Once the programme is downloaded, instead of going into screensaver mode when idle, the computer will contribute to the researcher's calculating power.

This technique, known as grid computing, is also being used by the SETI program which uses user's idle computers to seek out alien life.