Over the past two years since moving into my modest (small) home in Wisconsin my wife and I have been slowly converting to renewable energy sources and diversifying our energy sources.
The house was built in 1921 and is walking distance from a historical downtown in the center of an old Wisconsin city of 50k.
When we moved in we converted the house to use to gas for the stove, dryer and water heater. We installed Energy Star washer, dryer and fridge. The wash machine is a front loader and uses less than 1/4 of the water of a top loader does.
The next project was a wood pellet stove to supplement our heating. It ends up we use the pellet stove for over 50% of our heating needs for the past two winters. This winter we are upping that to 80% by increasing the number of hours the stove is operating.
We took out a small loan to pay for the stove and installation. We spent $350 for the winters supply of pellets. 1-1/2 tons. 90 40 lbs. bags of premium hardwood pellets.
Now the next project is underway. Photovoltaic to produce approximately 80% of our electrical energy needs. Last year we used averaged 470kw of electricity per month. This included the electricity used by my rock band that recorded and practiced in the basement for the past year. So I expect this number to drop as we tighten up our conservation habits and move the band studio to a new location.
There are lots of reasons to install a grid tied in PV system now. 2006 the feds have a 30% tax credit up to $2000 dollars installing a new system on a home.
Wisconsin has a solar value add tax credit on PV solar systems. In other words the vaue added to your home for installing a PV system is not added to your homes assessment for property taxes.
http://focusonenergy.com Wisconsin's state and industry sponsored energy program offers a 35% instant cash back rebate on installation and Zero Interest loans for renewable enegery installations.
Adding it all up it equals paying for only about 20% of the total installation costs. The system will pay for itself in less than 3 years.
So next week I have a certified Solar contractor coming over to quote a system and help take advantage of all the incentives in this State program. After the solar install I'll be looking to a small wind turbine to put us into Net electric production. Sure we will be making payments...but better for that that credit cards for junk.
The next car we are buying is going to be a Honda hybrid or VW disel (for bio-desiel, diesel hybrid would be best...hope they are coming soon...) and we a looking at a scooter for local errands as well as more bike riding. Hopefully we will be a one car family soon.
Rather than expensive vacations and racking up the credit cards on bogus consumer garbage...we are using our limited monetary resources to diminish our personal dependance on petroleum. Our goal is to become energy diverse with a strategy of biomass, natural gas, solar and wind electical production.
It is all about living lighter on the earth people. We have no choice now. This is not a right or left political thing anymore...it just makes a hell of a lot of sence to get green...
So get on those bikes, ride the bus, walk, turn the heat down this winter, turn the air conditioner off if you don't really need it and invest in systems for the long term production of electricity from solar and wind energy sources.
Think of the possibilites of thousands and millions of homes generating electricity with wind and solar....for the earths sake don't buy a non-hybrid NEW car. If you are buying a used car consider a quality bicycle, motorcycle or scooter instead...change, do something different.
Don't let your lifestyle and the old petro economy make excuses anymore. That is what helped degrade the planet thus far....it is time to change.
Peace.
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