Conserving Power vs. Solar Power

[ByExample]

I read an article today that seems to ring true for me. It emphasizes the importance of energy conservation. Whether you are solar powered or grid powered - conservation is the best way to reduce your environmental impact. And the biggest environmental savings is gained when conventional homes cut their power consumption by eliminating inefficiencies - many conventional homes can reduce power usage by 66%! When it comes right down to it solar is not the "end all be all" of power concerns. You can make a significant impact - even without a single solar panel.

Here is the article:
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/52917.html

[DonnaKay]

Good article. Very worth reading. I do wonder, however, if much thought has gone into how to recycle those old appliances?

Donna

[SolarGary]

Hi,

I agree -- conservation is the most cost effective way to go for electricity, heating and transportation.

Thanks for the article -- some very good points there.

This is our cut at reducing our total enery use for heating, electricity and transport by half:
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/Half.htm

As the article points out, we in the US are in a position to make big cuts with no pain. Not to mention saving a lot of money :)

Gary

[bee_pipes]

I agree, conservation is good and will save money, but as pointed out in other threads the gov't likes the tax money we pay to utilities. I think independence is the ultimate way to go.

I lived in southern California during a particularly bad drought. The LA area (where a cousin lived) was particularly emphatic about conserving water. The citizens went all out - no car washing, no lawn sprinklers, reducing the number of times they flushed - everything imaginable. They should be comended for what they did. Turned out the LA water works was not bringing in enough revenue to meet operating expenses with all the conservation, so they raised the rates for water. (bastards!)

No good deed goes unpunished. Even independence - they might start taxing by power generated. If you apply for tax breaks - some of the incentives for making your own power - they will have a list of people and generating capacities already on the tax rolls.

Regards,
Pat