Do you realize that you can RIGHT NOW, buy solar electric cells and set your home up completely solar-powered for about $20,000? People do this in remote areas where it would cost too much to pay the power company to run a line.
If this stuff was being mass-produced, the price would go WAAAAAY down. (Ya know, DVD players were $1000 when they first came out, now you can get 'em at Wal-Mart for $89.)
What bugs me is- even if I had a rechargable electric car, I'd still have to plug it into the power company grid and THEY burn fossil fuels. Same with the hydrogen fuel cell cars. It takes lots of traditional energy to re-charge one of those tanks.
It's distressing, thinking about the failure to mass produce solar electrics. I truly believe that if it was mass-produced and cheap, it would change the world- especially for 3rd world countries.
Besides solar power I have seen some home in some of the remote areas of western Texas, New Mexico and so on. Where people have combined solar with 1 or 2 windmill generators to power their homes. I have also seen people who have purchased water powered saw mills and installed generators that run off of the water wheel but that is mostly in northern states.
I just went back to driving truck for a living and the small company that I am driving for only uses biodiesel for fuel. But the problem is it is kind of hard to find, there are only about a dozen places to get it here in Texas. And it's all produced by Willie Nelsons biodiesel company.
actually I just downloaded a neat doc on making your own cells. Something to think about perhaps. It seems pretty complete. Let me know if you want a copy.
I just finished reading the article that you uploaded it very informative. I have some old articles that I found on the Mother Earth News site that deals with alternative energy sources. I found them while I was looking for woodworking patterns for treadle powered and hand powered woodworking tool(lathes and other tools). I also found an article about a generator that is powered by a Sterling Engine that is used in remote areas.
My wife and I have taken some small steps on the fuel issue. We haven't owed a car for over five years, instead we bought a long frame Rhoades car(peddle taxi with the back seats removed) and a 4 foot utility trailer to get around with. I did get a shock two weeks ago when I delivered a load to Ontario the prices for gas and diesel were about half to three quarter the price here. Gas was $1.60 a gallon and diesel was $.89 cents a gallon. But that has alot to do with certain political issues which I won't go into.
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but even more, I believe, "saving ourselves is saving the planet"
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Solar Electric Basics
Do you realize that you can RIGHT NOW, buy solar electric cells and set your home up completely solar-powered for about $20,000? People do this in remote areas where it would cost too much to pay the power company to run a line.
If this stuff was being mass-produced, the price would go WAAAAAY down. (Ya know, DVD players were $1000 when they first came out, now you can get 'em at Wal-Mart for $89.)
What bugs me is- even if I had a rechargable electric car, I'd still have to plug it into the power company grid and THEY burn fossil fuels. Same with the hydrogen fuel cell cars. It takes lots of traditional energy to re-charge one of those tanks.
It's distressing, thinking about the failure to mass produce solar electrics. I truly believe that if it was mass-produced and cheap, it would change the world- especially for 3rd world countries.
Reply
I just went back to driving truck for a living and the small company that I am driving for only uses biodiesel for fuel. But the problem is it is kind of hard to find, there are only about a dozen places to get it here in Texas. And it's all produced by Willie Nelsons biodiesel company.
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http://s56.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2CCNMSDCM9YMU1QSGIH74AQKA3
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My wife and I have taken some small steps on the fuel issue. We haven't owed a car for over five years, instead we bought a long frame Rhoades car(peddle taxi with the back seats removed) and a 4 foot utility trailer to get around with. I did get a shock two weeks ago when I delivered a load to Ontario the prices for gas and diesel were about half to three quarter the price here. Gas was $1.60 a gallon and diesel was $.89 cents a gallon. But that has alot to do with certain political issues which I won't go into.
Reply
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