Solar energy has been a household name since the late 1920s in Florida and California until a tank-type water heaters replaced them. A thriving manufacturing business soon dwindled. It wasn’t until the late 80s that Solar-Panel Energy made a comeback. Even though they were still being manufactured from 1920 to 1980 not a lot of people would give them a shot.
If we took a trip back to the “pioneer days” when energy cost, gas, and food scares (wheat gluten) didn’t exist, we would see how life on Mother Earth is suppose to be. Even though the Pioneers had their own set of worries, with what we know now we could “start over” so to speak. Harmful chemicals in our food such as Red Dye #40, Yellow Lake #5, Saturated Fats, etc. As well as the rising energy cost just to have a family of 4 survive is outrageous.
According to Wikipedia, the word “energy conservation” is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used while achieving a similar outcome of end use. This practice may result in increase of financial capital, environmental value, national security, personal security, and human comfort.
So ultimately we are sacrificing our “human comfort” to have Energy!? Why?
With solar panels being made by manufacturs from New York to California there should be no worry about what they are doing to better the Earth with a renewable resource. Even more so, with the Ozone Layer being depleted, solar panels will be on the rise even more.
Solar energy can be used for a wide-range of energy depleting items, such as: Street lights, cars, heaters, boats, water pumps, houses, solar landscaping lights, etc.
So the only thing left is price. A middle-range situation would be a 1,500 to 2,000 square-foot house with $100 to $150 electric bills per month. Total cost for solar panels would probably be in the ballpark of $25,000 to $30,000. But you are also looking at rebated tax breaks as well. You would get about be about $10,000 from the state, plus a new federal tax credit of $2,000. Leaving a total price, roughly about, $13,000 to $18,000. Even though this may seem high to some people, the total payout over the years would be worth it not only in your pocket, but for the Earth as well.
*Going Green Tip: Recycle old magazines with paper solids or donate them to area hospitals or librarys.
Consider these facts as your children go back to school this year –
** CHILDREN AND TOXICS: According to the Children’s Environmental Health Network, children are more vulnerable than adults to toxic chemicals – “Pound for pound, children eat more food, drink more water and breathe more air than adults. Thus, they are likely to be more exposed to substances in their environment than are adults.”
** CHILDREN AND FOOD: “Farm to school programs, which link local farmers with schools, have increased in number, from fewer than ten in 1997 to more than an estimated 2,000 programs in 2008,” says the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College.
** CHILDREN AND POLLUTION: “While school bus fleets cut fuel use and emissions compared to the automobile trips they displace, the practice of idling school bus engines needlessly consumes more fuel, produces more air pollutants, and specifically dangers the health of schoolchildren,” according to the Environmental Energy Study Institute.
For these reasons, and dozens of others, parents owe it to their children to help schools go green for safety and health reasons. After all, most children spend half their day at school.
Terra Wellington, author of The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home (www.terrawellington.com), has tips to offer on how to work with your child’s school to go green.** How to identify areas in a school that can go green
** Why volunteering can turn a school green
** Who are your best allies in getting a school to see more eco
** How you can fund green improvements in this tough economy
** Why your local community would have interest in helping
