Last month, I opened my Nevada Power bill and sustained an injury. Yes, I am thinking about suing Nevada Power because as soon as I saw the amount of money that they wanted me to pay them, my blood pressure shot up, my heart began pounding and I nearly fell off my rocker. $620 clams for the month of July. And we still have the hot summer months of August and September to go. I keep my air-conditioner running 24/7. You have to if you want to survive the paralyzing summers of southern Nevada where 115 degrees Fahrenheit is just another day in the desert. I don't know how others do it. My house is a modest 3400 square feet in size. And most of my friends live in similar or even larger homes. Why am I the only one complaining. And why am I the only one nearly reaching militant indignation about this? Are we in some sort of social denial about what's going on? Nevada Power hikes its rates two or three times a year and no one does a thing about it. Everybody wants to discuss Bush's incompetence, the war in Iraq, the puzzle of Hillary Clinton or whether Tom Cruise really ate his baby's umbilical chord and placenta. But nobody seems to care about the farce of Nevada Power. Are we just a nation of doormats?
Here's an even bigger rub: Germany, Spain, and Finland---FINLAND(!) of all places---are going solar. Yep. They happen to be leading the world in the use of solar power to generate electricity. AND they use American technology and know-how to install these wondrous systems. Solar companies build their components in factories located in the Philippines and Spain but their main clientele remain countries in Europe and Asia.
Photovoltaic enery is gaining more and more popularity---but not here in America. Why not? Because it's so expensive. For a house like mine, it will most probably cost me between $45,000 to $65,000 to install a system. But once it's installed, I will no longer be dependent or beholden to Nevada Power. My meter can actually run backward. And I can sell my excess electricity to Nevada Power---should they need it----another reason why utilities won't want people to know about it. Again, it's the all powerful money grubbing corporations. What really galls me is the fact that we live in southern Nevada where the sun does shine. Germany uses more photovoltaic energy than we do. And how much sun do they get? And how about Finland? Come on. Just look at the photo above this blog---a house with solar cells on its roof. What a sight to behold! One I'd love to see on my roof.
If the state of Nevada were smart they would subsidize or at the very least, provide financial incentives for people who want to invest in this technology. Have we gone nuts? Where are the tree huggers? Where are the fur lovers who parade on the streets naked as the day they were born to protest the killing of cute, little minks? These people need to march in front of the state capitol building and demand that photovoltaic systems be installed in ALL public buildings including schools and even parks AND demand very encouraging incentives to homeowners who want to make the switch! It just angers me that we hear so much vitriolics against oil and gas prices, and energy consumption and waste and yet no one has even mentioned the possibility of photovoltaic energy.
We need to get out of the dark ages and get with it. First of all, more information has to be broadcasted about this technology. Secondly, we need to get smart and demand it. Third, we need to just DO IT.
Here's an even bigger rub: Germany, Spain, and Finland---FINLAND(!) of all places---are going solar. Yep. They happen to be leading the world in the use of solar power to generate electricity. AND they use American technology and know-how to install these wondrous systems. Solar companies build their components in factories located in the Philippines and Spain but their main clientele remain countries in Europe and Asia.
Photovoltaic enery is gaining more and more popularity---but not here in America. Why not? Because it's so expensive. For a house like mine, it will most probably cost me between $45,000 to $65,000 to install a system. But once it's installed, I will no longer be dependent or beholden to Nevada Power. My meter can actually run backward. And I can sell my excess electricity to Nevada Power---should they need it----another reason why utilities won't want people to know about it. Again, it's the all powerful money grubbing corporations. What really galls me is the fact that we live in southern Nevada where the sun does shine. Germany uses more photovoltaic energy than we do. And how much sun do they get? And how about Finland? Come on. Just look at the photo above this blog---a house with solar cells on its roof. What a sight to behold! One I'd love to see on my roof.
If the state of Nevada were smart they would subsidize or at the very least, provide financial incentives for people who want to invest in this technology. Have we gone nuts? Where are the tree huggers? Where are the fur lovers who parade on the streets naked as the day they were born to protest the killing of cute, little minks? These people need to march in front of the state capitol building and demand that photovoltaic systems be installed in ALL public buildings including schools and even parks AND demand very encouraging incentives to homeowners who want to make the switch! It just angers me that we hear so much vitriolics against oil and gas prices, and energy consumption and waste and yet no one has even mentioned the possibility of photovoltaic energy.
We need to get out of the dark ages and get with it. First of all, more information has to be broadcasted about this technology. Secondly, we need to get smart and demand it. Third, we need to just DO IT.
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MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R13
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy Sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy.” We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, retrofits etc. The source of energy must be by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, Hydrogen-Fuel Cell etc. This includes the utilizing of water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products and energy efficiency should be reduced or eliminated)
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors’ commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Feb. 14, 2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
"the way we produce and use energy must fundamentally change."
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
The Oil Companies should be required to invest a substantial percentage of their profit in renewable energy R&D and implementation. Those who do not will be panelized by the public at large by boy cutting their products.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2
4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance based”).
Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on "performance based" (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product - that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.
Installing a renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
The head of the U.S. government's renewable energy lab said Monday (Feb. 5) that the federal government is doing "embarrassingly few things" to foster renewable energy, leaving leadership to the states at a time of opportunity to change the nation's energy future. "I see little happening at the federal level. Much more needs to happen." What's needed, he said, is a change of our national mind set. Instead of viewing the hurdles that still face renewable sources and setting national energy goals with those hurdles in mind, we should set ambitious national renewable energy goals and set about overcoming the hurdles to meet them. We have an opportunity, an opportunity we can take advantage of or an opportunity we can squander and let go,"
solar energy - the direct conversion of sunlight with solar cells, either into electricity or hydrogen, faces cost hurdles independent of their intrinsic efficiency. Ways must be found to lower production costs and design better conversion and storage systems.
FEDERAL BUILDINGS WITH SOLAR ENERGY – Renewable Energy
All government buildings, Federal, State, County, City etc. should be mandated to be energy efficient and must use renewable energy on all new structures and and structures that are been remodeled/upgraded.
"The goverment should serve as an example to its citizens"
Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: renewableenergy2@msn.com
I so appreciate this comment. Now if we can only mobilize people and somehow get a powerful grassroots effort going. I'd love to be involved.
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