This Home Energy Manual was Designed for You
A decade ago when a group of young entrepreneurs carried out sample surveys on the various uses of energy in different households, they involved a cross section of people across many states. Surprisingly, except for expressing their grievance over the high cost of energy, most people were either unaware or unconcerned about the renewable or alternate sources of energy.
Statistics show that presently 25% of the energy comes from petroleum, and presently, the price of petroleum is soaring sky high. Besides, in 2012 it was estimated that half of the world’s oil reserves had already been consumed.
Yet, the United States was the second largest consumer of energy in terms of total use. It could have rated higher if one took into consideration the energy used overseas, mainly to produce retail and industrial goods for consumption in the American markets.
What becomes alarming is that in the last 50-60 years, energy consumption has increased at a much faster rate than energy production. This has become a worldwide phenomenon. In the developing countries, governments are offering high subsidies to industrial complexes, and school and colleges, to replace conventional energy with alternate sources like solar and wind energy. In their quest to lighten up remote villages and bring relief to the under privileged, governments feel that no price is to too high to pay.
Solar energy has been there from the beginning of time. The lack of technical expertise and the cost involved in the development were two major detriments in the furtherance of this source. Fortunately, this is behind us and we have now developed very simple and effective ways of producing energy at home. Commercially manufactured home solar systems have proven to be a worthy alternate but the cost remains well beyond the reach of an average household.
The one feasible option is to make your solar panels at home. There are a number of good DIY guides on the market designed for you. You need no technical knowledge, no previous DIY experience and you could be a man or woman of any age. We will hold your hand and guide you through the whole process. You will find how easy it is to make the right purchases at a quality hardware store. In the early stages $100-$120 is all that you will need to spend on your 100 Watts single solar panel.
Spare a couple of hours over the weekend for a worthy cause, and see your first single panel power a household appliance, the basement or your garage. When you become more self assured, as you are likely to, expand your operation at your own pace. Soon you may have an entire household working on the energy produced by you. Besides encouraging self sufficiency, energy companies need energy, and will gladly buy the excess generated by you. This can be an ideal opportunity for enterprising college students and retired persons to augment their incomes.
The emphasis on alternate energy gains further importance when you discover that at Harvard University, 67 homeowners are generating clean solar power from their rooftops or backyards. Mark Durrenberger, president of solar installer New England Clean Energy, announced that one in 20 Harvard residents is now generating solar power.
The solar electric installations will generate roughly 388,000 kilowatt-hours per year, and offset about 194 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The homeowners will collectively save more than $54,000 a year in electricity costs.
Projects like this prompted President Barack Obama to say that: “The development of renewable energy and energy efficiency marks a new era of energy exploration”.
If you are tempted to join ranks with the many on their way to self sufficiency, take a look at an excellent manual…it may just be what you need.
