Check your local power company website too. In Indianapolis, IPL has a "green power" program. You pay a small per KWh charge to make sure that they provide the amount of energy you consume from renewable sources. It might be less satisfying than having your own solar panels but it's certainly a much easier and cheaper way for the average Jane and lets the companies know we're demanding clean energy.

http://www.iplpower.com/ipl/index?page=IPLGeneral&Menu=01050300&DocID=02...

Steve,
How would you rate my link(on my LINK page)on using the SUN--
on www.SaveOurGreenPlanet.org
AND I would LOVE to have your company posted---especially since
LIVE EARTH's site is a link on my(LINK page)
THANKS Norman Riback
NOT a non-profit and a NO add NO distraction site

i am very interested in solar power. Which systems are good and the price ranges that are reasonable.

Lara B - is there any chance that you're in a position to publish some of your research so other consumers can review this work? Open Qs are opportunities for improvement. It seems you've taken on the whole hog. Maybe one project at a time and see what is most efficient?
Loretta - sorry but it IS about money -which will alway be part of the problem and solution. State and Federal policy needs to address what is really right. Go State for another year and push local city and utilies policy to do what they can.

I am frustrated by the same problem as Lara B. (#48). Not enough useful information for consumers who want to know ALL the options AND know that they are viable in their situation AND know what is a reasonable price, etc.

One example: I am interested in a geo-exchange vertical pipe heating and cooling system for my home. I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I'm building and extending a green earth community (network) of home-based and home-made product producers, co-investors, inventors, co-innovators, and cosumers with the Spirit-linked energy, hygienic mentality, and communal sharing capitalism.

Take a look for what we're doing at http//sonyahome.blogspot.com

Now we're looking for a combination of Solar and Wind electricity unit for household and small resort homes of 15-20 bedrooms.

Anybody knows anybody who can help us start converting, adding up step by step. Or come to take a look first -- free food, free lodging offered for visiting on this purpose. Appointment required, I'm not always at home.

James: Okay, here's what I've learned, in a nutshell:

1. Solar heating is more efficient and affordable than solar electric/PV panels. PV panels have to convert solar light to electricity, whereas solar heating is just concentrating and re-directing heat. Solar heating technology is so simple you could probably design and build a solar heating panel yourself. Definitely more economical than solar PV panels.

2. Solar heating is great for heating hot water. It can also be used to heat your house, through radiant heating that comes through the floor (which, with or without the solar panels, is about 25% more efficient than conventional air-based heating systems anyway). See http://www.radiantsolar.com.

BUT...

3. Solar heating, unlike solar electricity, cannot be fed back into the grid. So depending on how many solar thermal panels you put on your roof, you'll either have not quite enough heat for the winter months, or too much heat in the summer months. That extra heat has to go somewhere, or else it will burn up your whole system. A lot of people re-direct the excess heat into a swimming pool or cistern. If you don't have one of those, this can be a problem, particularly if you go away during the summer and leave the system just generating heat with no one there to use the hot water.

ALSO...

4. If you want to install radiant floor heating, you have to be willing to rip out both your floors and your ceilings. If you want it in the basement, you have to re-pour the cement.

5. Our contractor is also concerned that the proposal we got from Radiantec for a combined hot-water/radiant floor heating system is going to be problematic. He is extremely uncomfortable with the idea of having the same hot water we use domestically being pumped through pipes in our floor for heating. He has a radiant floor heating system in his own house but the fluid that goes through the pipes is an antifreeze solution, not water.

So, that's what I've learned about solar heating. Shall I go on to discuss what I've learned about rain barrels?

Oh, also:

--There are two different types of solar thermal panels on the market. The newer type has transparent glass vacuum tubes that more efficiently collect and concentrate the heat.

--Solar panels of any type generally have to be installed on your roof at an angle equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees. So you may need to prop them up with something, and if you live in an area that gets hurricanes or strong winds, that "something" had better be pretty darn sturdy.

Incidentally, though, here is one tip I would offer to *anyone* (and this includes those of you who say you're on fixed incomes and can't afford solar): Get yourselves a professional home energy audit that includes a "blower door test." This may cost you about $400, but many public utilities and state and local governments offer them for free to their residents and/or customers. This audit, most significantly, helps you identify air leaks that could cost you just a couple hundred dollars to fix and will save you tons on heating and cooling costs. The average US home has air leaks that are equivalent to leaving a window open in terms of heating/cooling losses! Here's a good website on the topic:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/my...

I am very glad of what you have done. I have been aware of solar energy but notinto the details. I am very interested to start on my own while waiting for the government to produce the solar power for the public.
Can you please inform on how much I should invest so that I can have my own electricity to power my household?
Thank you very much.
Emmanuel

Wow, I realy liked the one about Citizenre. What a good idea...we have sooo much sun in Wagga Wagga Australia.
Afordability is the great issue with solar.

i am very interested and going to solar power but i don't know which systems are good and the price ranges that are reasonable.

You know what we need? We need for the solar and wind industries to be regulated like other public utilities. My partner and I are doing an incredible amount of research on solar electricity, solar thermal hot water heating, solar thermal radiant heating, wind power, air conditioning alternatives, landscaping for maximum energy efficiency, composting and double-flush toilets, etc. etc. We research looking for answers, but the more research we do the more questions we come up with. It's one thing to be willing and able to spend the money necessary to improve energy efficiency and install a system of renewable energy on your residence. It's another to take this incredible leap of faith that the dealers and contractors you're dealing with are actually going to do a good job and are not going to do irreparable damage screwing around with the heating and cooling systems on your house. We need some help here!! I'm tired of getting a different opinion from everyone I ask!! Liveearth, can you help us?

Hello, I agree that home owners should try and invest in more energy efficent products to power thier homes. There are, however, those few that barley scrape by as it is and so not everyone would be capable of doing this given the current prices of some alternatives. Since, your in the biz, maybe you could offer something to the less lined pocket homeowner who wants to do whats best. The tax break is a nice bonus, but not always the best idea since the tax money HAS to come from somewhere and creates a bad chain reaction into motion. Lets all try to forget about the $ incentive and focus on the effect on the earth and incentives based on that. There has got to be a way of making this balance out for the benefit of the earth rather than for the money and because of money.

Can you imagine that in Arizona, where we have 350+ days of sun that there is not a good plan for using that energy? In fact, the "homeowners associations" in Phoenix will not let the residents of the many mini-communities put solar collectors up! I just cannot understand that. So, instead Arizona is building more power plants to sell power to Calif. and Mexico (one is the largest nuclear facility in the US, and there are more than several coal and gas fired plants.)
I live in what is considered an environmentally friendly community with the first "green" high school, lots of trees planted and houses required to be well-insulated with windows that block the sun. But, it's not enough with all that sun shining! We would like to put up solar panels for our AC/heat pump (we collect the sparse rain, recycle as much as we can, changed light bulbs etc) but getting an "approval" for them is next to impossible. I know a family who lost everything when the HOA took them to court for putting up solar panels (with neighbors' approval) to heat a swimming pool for a polio-disabled member.... the family eventually won in the AZ SUPREME Court, but it took years and the disabled family member passed away during the process.
I wonder what is wrong with the mentality in Arizona?????? We have sun and we have wind......??????

Last fall I had a geothermal heat pump installed, which eliminated a $2400 annual oil heating bill and lowered my current heating bill by 20%, and my air conditioning bill by 33% to 45% from last year (using electricity for both heating and air conditioning in 2007). The new geothermal system heats my two hot water tanks, which accounts for much of the savings on electricty. It's worth looking into. I live in northeast Indiana. WE had an extremely cold February this year and an extremely hot June and July compared to 2006, so the savings were even more remarkable.

Hi I think this is all great, but where was everyong in the 70' and 80's when we were trying to get all this noticed. We would of had a great head start. I have always tried to keep everything down. I don't use gas any more in my home but I do have to use some electic. But I do use oil and candle's when possible. I can't afford to buy panels or change my anything but would love to. Some of us are on a really low income and are lucky to have gas or eletric on. But most low income have been doing the oil lamps and candles and grilling out all the time. We need more places to recyle where I live we have maybe one. What happened about seperating bottles and plastic at the curbs. Most towns do not do that at all we don't here. You need more speakers at grade schools and places where the young really learn how to do it and the school follows through and shows the kids how inportant it is. Now just talk about it. I hope we get thought to people before it is to late. But it can be better for the next generation.

To those who are looking for qualified installers of renewable energy systems in your area, a national certification organization called the North Amercian Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) should be evaluated. They provide certification for solar electric installers, solar thermal installers, and are working on certification for wind installers. Just go to the nabcep.org website to learn more, and click on the map to find a certified installer in your area. Two other websites that you can use to learn more about these technologies are homepower.com and nrel.gov.

And I agree with the inital post about the need for everyone to take responsibility and take action! Get as efficient as possible and generate your own clean energy! Seize the day!

We are already building Zero Energy Homes in Florida. The homes are still connected to the grid but they make enough power during the day to make up for the power usage when the sun is down. These homes are actually less expensive then conventionally built homes once you factor in the electric bill savings. The Department of Energy and the Florida Solar Energy Center have verified my numbers. Each home is certified by a third party energy rater. Please visit my website and see for yourself.

It's just wonderful to knoww that so many people are thinking or doing something about this issue.There's a lot of money needed to solve the problem but if rich people get more interested and do it, poor people will get the benefit too. I really wish that extremely rich people contribute because they are the only ones who can afford it.

Paper or plastic? Neather one. The inventors must get to work hard and give us something that doesn't harm our planet, please! or we may use baskets to get our goods as our grandmothers did in the old times.

To Lara B.
I think you need to decide on one thing to change and focus there. I too have been looking at a lot of changes and it can be very overwhelming.
If you make the first change the next will be easier.

For all of the people overwhelmed by costs, do the same thing. Focus on a change that is affordable and doable!

The vast concern of power insufficiency can be of much importance to Caught-on environmentalists. However; alternative methods of energy have been discussed, fought over, and even confabulated about. I would limit the discussion knowing it is of gravity. However, my suggestion, coming from a moderatation in temperature to a very sub-zero day is to arm yourself in the best suit of Armour!!!

Hi Steve

Would you or anybody know if the Canadian Government have such program in a way of money refunded or being able to connect to the grid?

I am living on a fixed income but I made the sacrifice to buy those light bulbs that yall recommend. I have started turning off my pc at night and have only 1 light turned on at night. I have quit leaving my outside lights on at night. I cannot afford a Prius, but have bought a 4 cyclinder car and drive it only when necessary. Something is better than nothing. I have also started unpluging everything that I am not using.

Carol-
I live in Kenilworth, NJ, and I recently had the Solar Center from Denville, NJ (1-888-solar-05) (www.thesolarcenter.com)come and install solar panals on my roof! They are not hooked up yet as PSE & G is dragging their feet, because they will be losing money from me each month - but I don't care! I have supported their payroll for many years like most and am fed up with all their increases -22 % last year and another 18% this year, which goes to their pension plans, as well as their salaries, while we go broke! The sun is 'free' and we all should utilize it! All new construction and improvements should be forced to install these units! Yes - the system is expensive, but NJ will credit you 50%, I beleive, until 2008, and also give you a $2000.00 tax break!! I'm a proud solar homeowner and the first in my town to have a system!
Like anything - the more they sell, the lower the prices!!
Thanks for listening - and stop by to see my 'system'!!
Doreen Gillet
Kenilworth, NJ

The ground work for the next generation grid is already being mapped out to replace an antiquated system with a smart grid able to monitor, buy, trade& sell and distribute electricity from a wide range of renewable and traditional sources. It will still be some years from now but you will be able to drive to work in your plugin hybrid and recharge at work or give a contribution to the grid and get a credit on your own consumsion. Similarly smart home appliances will comunicate with the grid and power failures could become a thing of the past as the system simply borrows and shifts around distribution from some of the millions of distributed energy sources available.

I love your idea of a "homestead energy loan" for first time home buyers and an energy independent home at an affordable payback scheme. Excellent. So what is it going to take to make this a wide spread, available option for people? A lot of political pursuasion and dealing with difficult utilities that are still hesitant to opening up their systems and even hostile to netmetering.
It is a hard fight to develop a thriving sustainable, low carbon economy...our future and the health of the planet depend on us getting it right

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I am 51 years old. In my good young days we used to feel the natural air all over our forests. But these days you cant because there is polution even in Africa. I strongly support the program against air polution

My name links to a report that compares price and GHG emissions for heating water in US households using various energy sources.

These comparisons were not possible until recently, with the release of US EIA reports that summarize actual water heating info from census data. Previously, hot water usage statistics were largely based on theoretical assumptions. Now we have the hard facts!

Solar water heating *is* a largely unleveraged renewable resource in the US.

Do you know dealers in CT or RI?

I expect to install this system next Spring...Why not use a system that pays for itself?
http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html

Thanks for the information, Steve, and for all of the responsive comments. I live in a condominium building and I'm not sure what we can do to such a large building to add green power. Any suggestions?

I, too would love to get off the grid. However, it costs way too much on our salary. Is it possible in the future the costs will come down enough so the regular person can afford it? It would be a dream.

Ich finde es gut, dass es so was wie Live Earth gibt und unterstütze Live Earth damit, dass ich versuche die Tips immer einzuhalten. Danke Live Earth und auch besten Dank an Al Gore

Would Minnesota have like programs ie, affordable means to use solar for heating in the winter? My home was built in 1894 and I am having a hard time finding information on how to convert to green resources such as solar for heathing this drafty old home. ANY links to affordable options would be greatly appreciated for any green measures for my old beauty! Thanks

Urban buildings and residential structures can lower carbon foot prints, lower cooling costs, lenghten roof life, slow rain run-off, and provide additional oxygen passively.

Green roofs, built up or modular are spreading across the country. The Mayor of Chicago recently mandated that flat roof buildings in the city be adopted to using roofs that can support vegetative cover over existing roof structures. Apple recently opened their Chicago headquarters with a modular green roof.

The use of appropriate vegetation for climate location provides for low maintenance and viability.
Our condo will be using a modular system to protect a new roofing system [supposedly doubling its life] with a modular green roof and rubber pavers from recycled tires. The design provides all of the benefits and more by being modular and not requiring more complex structures for hosting vegetation and water proofing. Modules can be moved, appropriate plants plugs installed and drip feed for some larger modules incorporated. The modules will support the growth of the vegetation which will in turn slow down and filter rain run off,
cool underlying roofs from infra-red and UV exposure which shortens life of roof membranes.
GreenGrid is one provider of a modular system. Users can qualify for LEEDs certification and Federal
programs that cover "Green" development. Recycled module materials used are themselves recyclable.
Using passive with active systems in some combination may provide a higher yield in power consumption than panels alone.

Kevin asks why can't he sell this to his neighbor? Why not have several neighbors, or a whole block, set it up as a co-op? I don't know how, but I'm sure the technology is already among us.

Second, we have to keep the pressure on legislators at all levels to get off the big-business/monopoly mentality, or elect those whose "new" ideas are out of that box already. -- Aren't you sick of what the big guys are doing to the little guys in business?! (case in point: Starbucks vs. Sam Buck's coffee shop in Astoria, Oregon. Guess who won?)

Steve
I'm writing all the way from the low lying coastal town of Lagos, Nigeria, West AFrica. We in Lagos stand to be very hard hit if this climate change monster gets unleashed and out of hand. It is so heartwarming to hear from people like yourself, who realy care and are trying to make a difference. Keep it up.

We are introducing solar / wind hybrid systems at our new Lion Beach health resort in Lagos.

thanks for this information .My english is not very good , so i write nothing

I am a 67 yr old retired widow living on SS and a very small monthly pension. I own my own home and would love to do anything to it that would save the earth and me money. But it takes money to make these changes and that is where I see a lot of people that are jumping to make changes if they can't afford it! I am welcome to any suggestions and how much some of these ideas cost.

That a great idea but it is not available in Maryland. I was interested in the cost but no dealers are located here the closes is NJ and DE.

We are interested in solar panels for our house. Do you have any literature that you can send me?
My address is 509 Richmond Ave
Maplewood, NJ 07040 or you could send me whatever you have online. I have Adobe.

where is it possible to find such a direct current heating cooling system in Israel/palestine where sun is plentiful.
how large is it?

As I mentioned in the last email, please help promote other 'green' products. Please have a look at the website attached to this reply it is the company I work for...

This is a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine near Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It is built strong to last long; throughout all four seasons it's always green.

If LiveEarth has a representative who would like to see if it can be used at concerts, please contact me.

I agree! I would like to see public pressure put on schools, businesses, government buildings to go green as a way to lead communities into action. At one time, under President Carter's administration, there were solar panels on the White House which President Reagan decided weren't needed. Carter had the initiative then during the energy crisis of the '70's to make changes. It's hard to get the ball rolling, but once it does, big changes can happen in communities. I will look in to this alternative source for my own house, too. Thanks!

Dear Steve,

So glad that you wrote in because I just happen to live in sunny CA and currently do not have central heat/ac at all. The winters are mild(at least for me) but the summer is a killer. We used to use a swamp cooler and fans but the swamp cooler broke and was located in too hot of a spot on our house(we bought it used). Someone gave us a large window A/C unit and we also have a small one for the back of the house. I don't like the noise for one and I know they are inefficient to say the least. Finances are a big part of the equation but long story short we will definately research this company. Thanks sooo much, your write in, it saved me alot of time and research. :o)

There are many 'green' solutions out there, we simply need to know where to shop. You should help the marketing of 'green' products as much as possible, because it is our consumptive habits that got us into this mess; our consumptive habits will need to adapt, to get us out.

I am only 25 and it is already hard to change these habits, but I am trying and I hope that my seniors have the strength to do the same. Hopefully, individual monetary value will not get in the way of natural and sustainable values.

Try and keep this place, as clean as you found it; our parents would say.

Steve V. Thanks for the information. I will pass this on to others here in Lapeer that may be interested in learning more.
I agree with you "people need to step up to the plate"

Karen, Lapeer Michigan

I think Steve's idea is a great one.
To that end, I have been trying to get the town to pass a resolution that requires all new construction in town to have at least 20% of its anticipated energy demands supplied by renewable energy.
Last year, we did persuade the town to adopt a resolution which exempts the value all renewable energy systems installed from any additional town property tax for 20 years.
All residents have to do is ask for it.

Hi. Thanks for the solcool idea. I have sent that one around to family and friends. Where I live we have lots of wind and finding the right combination of wind generator and possible cooling /heating solutions hadn't turned up anything as neat as this one.