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Anthony
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Susan Akers says:
June 13, 2013 at 9:34 am
I hope I interpret/read your post correctly – which seems to suggest that you think we are all anti-environment here or something? Far from it – the ‘eco-friendly’ attitude does not get thrown out just because we (well, some of us) don’t think that catastrophic anthropgenic global warming (CAGW) is a realistic construct – it is a construct, just one made up by the puppet scientists and governments to enagage in further tax extraction!
Being ‘green’ is good – but you really need to do your maths before committing to large investment. There are many cases of it simply being ‘green’ is a way of you paying more – largely unecessarily, and largely ineffectively (for the environment! – just look at all the energy and rare earths used to make and put up wind turbines!)
Only trolls and idots ever get slated here as far as I have see!
regards
Kev
dbstealey says:
June 13, 2013 at 2:23 am
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There was a well written sci-fi from the 50s written by author, John Brunner. The title was “And the Sheep Looked Up”. Brunner had a good sense for reality and how social reality might change over time. The timeline for the beginning of the story was set for the late 1990s if I remember right. The ending of the book correlates with “Lord Monckton on the late, great USA.”. If you like sci-fi this one is worth reading, if you didn’t come across it before.
Hi, Kev in UK – Thanks for responding. I guess I did not articulate very well……the reason I LIKED this site is that it seemed very level-headed people were talking about energy issues from a rationale perspective –no one on the outer skirts of the continuum. We have jumped on the residential solar bandwagon but not because we understand the pros and cons –especially costs of the total enterprise from us to grid to gov’t–very well but because it seemed like a good idea in 2006 with a large state tax subsidy here in NJ. BUT now wondering if it truly makes sense and if we aren’t unintentionally perpetuating something without staying power–at taxpayers’ cost (which includes us of course). I guess my other question is IF one is to re-install a solar system, is it better to own the equipment and get the SREC’s or is it better to do the deal where you pay up front for energy at a fixed rate—and don’t own the equipment allowing someone else to take care of problems that may arise. BUT if that “someone else” goes under in 20 years who ya gonna call?! Thanks, Susan
Susan Akers says:
June 15, 2013 at 8:46 am
I have heard of similar ‘free’ solar systems here in the UK, where the houseowner pays/does nothing but recieves allegedly cheaper (offset) electricity. I’m always suspicious of such things as a ‘free’ or even cheap lunch. My main concern is, as you say, the longevity issues (of the product and cheap electricity), and also the legal aspect of what happens if you want to sell your home, etc.
Not that it perhaps matters to most people (who are naturally ‘selfish’), but I found myself thinking the fact of utility companies extracting even more money from other ordinary householders to subsidise ‘my’ feed in tariff for solar power generation on my house, slightly abhorent. I will be adopting an off-grid system for my place in portugal for partly this reason. One of the best ways to be ‘green’ is to take responsibility for your own actions and make yourself as green as possible (by this, I mean with as low environmental impact as you can make) without relying on others (companies or gov’ts) to do it for you!
I don’t know if you have seen some of Anthony Watts’ own posts on energy efficiency stuff, but I know he has done some interesting stuff for his own house – and he checks everything thoroughly!
regards Kev
I am thinking now that if we “re-do” the solar we really need to do independently….but where can one find good info on the storage of energy? Isn’t this the reason that we have solar “on the grid” as the science/technology of solar energy storage has not yet produced a reasonably priced battery for residential use? I just saw a TEDx talk from Floyd, VA on what appeared to be several solar installations off the grid…….powering internet, coffee makers and other modern conveniences!
THAT is what we should be aiming for…..why do I want to feed the grid what I create on my roof?
There have been a number of articles recently (WSJ, NYT) on “new” funding for solar projects too and that is concerning…….I don’t understand all the angles of the funding strategies, but it’s still taxpayer subsidies and continuing the trend of linking alternative energy with power companies…..not the path to true energy independence. So glad to have found sites like this and others which slowed our “run” to another system before really thinking through ALL the implications. Will look for Anthony Watts posts…….Thanks, Kev from UK