Hi Guys,

I hope that you have had a good day today.

As I’ve mentioned previously my interest in renewable energy is a selfish one. I want to be able to generate my own electricity, heat my water and keep my home warm in the winter and cool in the summer while keeping as much of my money in my own pocket.

Going “green” has a cost implication. As much as environmentalists and others with vested interests try to sugar coat the pill, it all comes down to money. I want to see a return on my investment.

There are hard questions to be asked such as: -

• How much is it going to cost initially?
• What are the maintenance costs?
• How long will it take before I see a return on my investment?
• What are the environmental costs involved?
• What are the human costs involved?

I believe that it is important to see and quantify, both the positive and negative effects of renewable energy.

The costs in money terms are easily quantifiable. Numbers are impersonal. They remove the emotions from the equation. However, for those of you who have read my previous articles know that while the numbers may tell us one thing, they can be skewed by government policies such as subsidies, tax rebates or even hidden taxes such as import duties on alternative products from elsewhere making that product less competitive than the ones vested interests may have.

Whatever your views on the matter, as I’ve stated before, I think its important to weigh all the evidence before barging forward in the name of ‘green’!

We really need to have a frank and honest discussion on the true environmental impact of some of the renewable energy products. The direct and indirect environmental consequences of bio diesel crops for instance, causing vast deforestation of jungle in places such as Brazil and Indonesia, and the loss of all the bio diversity this entails.

While soybeans, like corn, had some great potential for fuel however people are starting to notice the direct negative impact of using food crops for something other than food. Consider spiraling food prices and the food riots in various parts of the world about a year ago.

Apart from the above consider the human cost where in four separated cases more than 1,700 sugar cane workers were rescued from forced labor and slavery conditions in Brazil. One would like to think that these are isolated cases but I wonder.

Lets not kid ourselves and consider some of the unpalatable truths behind some of the products including the companies and politics behind them.

I am not a conspiracy theorists but having lived in various parts of the world I know that most people in the west don’t really give a dam about others in far off places, working for a pittance or as slaves, just as long as their standard of living is not affected.

In spite of the above I still believe that there is a future in renewable energy solutions. But I believe that we should include an element of ethics in the mix and sanction companies that destroy the environment and enslave others.

In future articles we will be considering some of the above in greater detail.

As always, I wish you everything I wish myself.

Until the next time.

Alain

Check out my review of the top 3 products for renewable home energy solution
Check out my review of the Home Made Power Plant product
Check out my review of DIY Power System product

Hi Guys,

I hope that you have had a good Saterday.

Today I would like to touch upon the subject of whether it is time to start to utilize renewable solar energy. Personally, my interest in renewable solar energy, is to reduce my electricity bills and eventually go off grid.

As we know the sun is the life force of our very existence. The light and heat radiated by the sun, is what sustains life on earth. The leaves of plants convert the sun’s energy into food and fiber, which is in turn, sustains animal life on this planet. Green leaves are thus the powerhouses – the great driving force for Life on Earth. Photosynthesis is the life generating chemical process. Chlorophyll is thus the Molecule of Life.

I view solar panels as those green leaves and photovoltaic cells in the same light as that of the chlorophyll molecule in those leaves.

Renewable solar energy can provide us with much more than just food and fibres. Renewable energy can provide us with both economic and environmental benefits as well.

The technology is already in place, but a change in governmental and social attitudes towards this solar technology is required. As much as vested interests would like to slow the process the high cost of energy is forcing this social change upon us. If governments were able to tax us for this free energy (after our initial investment to install electricity generating or hot water heating solar panels), government policies would change overnight. Let’s face it if we all produced our own electricity governments and other vested interests would loose a captive revenue stream.

Every 15 minutes the sun produces enough power to supply the earth for an entire year. The United Kingdom receives 60% of the solar energy received by the equator. Each square metre of the UK receives between 900 to 1200 kWh each year. This energy is equivalent to the production of 1000 power stations.

Forgive my little rant here, but in light of this, is it not rather egotistical of man to assume that he has an effect upon the earth’s temperature? Climate change has occurred long before man made his apparition on this planet and will continue to do so long after we will disappear from this earth.

All one has to do, regarding the so-called global warming myth, is to educate oneself and follow the money. It is only a scam to fleece us of yet more of our earnings.

In many areas the cost of electricity is simply too high to avoid alternative sources.

Renewable solar energy is an excellent source of electricity. Rather than using dwindling fossil fuels (if you believe in the peak oil theory) to feed power plants, we can take advantage of renewable solar energy. Renewable solar energies come with very little pollution when they convert electricity from solar panels or thermal devices and once installed will not contribute to the effects of so-called global warming.

Another considerable advantage of solar power is the fact that energy production at the point of demand reduces and even negates the need for transmission and distribution infrastructure.

My motive for using renewable energy is purely a selfish one. I want to be as self-sufficient as possible. During a power outage I still want to be able to go on with my life as though nothing has happened and as I certainly do not like paying ever increasing energy bills nor do I want to pay so-called value added taxes on these bills. I would like to be in control of the energy I produce and use.

I know that there are days when the sun doesn’t shine enough to generate the electricity I may require should I use a just-in-time system, but there are far more days when the sun is there and not being utilized to power our homes, businesses and workshops. Once you invest in renewable solar energy, you can save greatly on maintenance costs as most solar systems have no moving parts and typically do not require maintenance, other than periodic cleaning of the solar panels. A Photovoltaic panel life, for instance, is typically 25+ years.

By utilizing passive renewable solar energy, you can build a solar home that requires very low energy use. To use passive renewable solar energy you must include south facing windows in your home design, in combination with products like brick and stone that provide heat radiating thermal mass. In combination with a solar hot water system and solar electric panels you can take full advantage of renewable solar energy resources.

It is also possible to build your own solar panel and solar hot water systems for your design. By building your own components you can greatly reduce the time needed to pay for your renewable solar energy system as at least half the cost of a commercial system comes from labour.

Building your own solar energy system also allows you to fully understand the mechanics and physics behind harnessing solar energy. This can have an educational benefit for all members of your family. Building your own systems will lower the cost of your renewable solar energy by at least half when compared to purchasing a system and having it installed professionally.

Start utilizing the power of the sun and design a plan for your renewable solar energy system. With a bit of research and some elbow grease you can be on your way to a lower monthly budget and a more environmentally friendly home or business. Renewable solar energy is going to be the way of the future.

As always, I wish you everything I wish myself.

Until the next time.

Alain

Check out my review of the top 3 products for renewable home enegy solution
Check out my review of the Home Made Power Plant product
Check out my review of DIY Power System product