Just recently, I discovered some very interesting points from Ron Permick, Managing Director of Clean Energy Source, and co-author of the brand new book – Clean Tech Nation – How the US Can Lead in the Global New Economy.
In the book, Ron and Clint, make the case for a U.S. energy future built on renewables, responsible natural gas, and efficiency.
I recommend having a personal 10-year energy independence plan.
One important aspect of this 10-year plan would be to know that you don’t know what’s around the corner.
There is a lot of research and development going on now around energy that we don’t know anything about, so, in 5 years, say, there could be a new piece of the energy puzzle that comes into play.
For example – I just learned about methane ice:
In Ode magazine (Mar/Apr 2012) Sam Rosenzweig writes,
“More energy is trapped in methane ice than all other fossil fuels combined… which produces 40% less CO2 than oil and coal.”
Wow!
That’s an interesting bit of information. He goes on to write,
“Japan plans to be the first nation to conduct an offshore methane production test and hopes to supply methane-derived energy commercially by 2018.”
There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of other energy ideas being worked on and developed right now that you and I don’t have a clue about.
Isn’t that great?
In the meantime, until these new ideas are developed and are available to us, there are many things you can do right now to get started with your own personal energy independence….
In my next post, I’ll review how I’m 5 years into my own 10 Year energy plan! Stay tuned!
- Dan
“Imagine fuel without fear. No climate change. No oil spills, dead coal miners, dirty air, devastated lands, lost wildlife. No energy poverty. No oil-fed wars, tyrannies, or terrorists. Nothing to run out. Nothing to cut off. Nothing to worry about. Just energy abundance, benign and affordable, for all, for ever.”
Wow! These are the opening lines to the preface of “Reinventing Fire”, the latest book from Amory Lovins and his team at Rocky Mountain Institute –
To me, the key word here is “imagine”.
Reread the lines and feel what it would be like to live in such a world.
It’s coming.
I know it is.
I’ve made it my mission to make it happen. (I hope that makes you feel as good as it makes me feel.)
I’ll be sharing more quotes from this inspiring book with you in the future, but, in the mean time, if you want to light your own fire, I suggest you get cozy with your own copy… or better yet!… Connect with www.fafcosolar.com to learn how Fafco Solar can light your (reinvented) fire!
- Dan
PS – If you have a moment – be sure to watch this very inspirational video as well:
As I mentioned, in my previous blog posts, I’m sharing the latest release from the Energy Policy Institute.
It’s part of Lester Brown’s latest book, World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse.
Here’s the final part of this release.
Enjoy,
-Dan
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Part 3 of 3
Stabilizing climate will mean rapidly cutting carbon emissions by dramatically scaling up renewable energy, harnessing energy efficiency, restructuring transportation systems, curbing deforestation, and planting trees. That the fastest growth in the global energy industry over the last decade is in solar and wind is an early sign of hope.
Politicians talk about cutting carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050, but more ambitious cuts are likely needed to prevent climate catastrophe. Together the climate stabilization measures described in World on the Edge would drop net carbon emissions 80 percent by 2020.
Additional figures and tables are posted by chapter and by topic, along with full downloads of the text of
World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse,
on the Earth Policy Institute website, www.earth-policy.org.
As I mentioned, in my previous blog post, I’m sharing the latest release from the Energy Policy Institute.
It’s part of Lester Brown’s latest book, World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse.
Enjoy,
-Dan
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Part 2 of 3
Governments that are unable to ensure adequate and affordable food risk political instability and social unrest. If they cannot provide basic security, they may descend into state failure. Many of the world’s failing states are hampered by high population growth rates and a deteriorating resource base, and depend heavily on international food aid.
A NEW DIRECTION:
Time is running short, but we can pull back from the edge. While security is a major concern for the world’s governments, we have inherited a definition of security from the last century, one dominated by two world wars and the Cold War. Rather than armed aggression, today we are at risk from the fallout of climate change, population growth, water shortages, poverty, rising food prices, and failing states. Military spending worldwide exceeds $1.5 trillion annually; yet traditional defense outlays do little to address these true threats to our future. Diverting just 12 percent of global military spending can meet the goals of eradicating poverty, ensuring basic health care, stabilizing population, and restoring the earth’s natural systems.
More data is available in Lester’s book [on Amazon].
Continued in my next blog post…
Recently, the Earth Policy Institute published a ‘BY THE NUMBERS: Data Highlights from World on the Edge’ release, over this, and the next two blog posts…
…I’m going to share it with you.
I feel that is has very compelling data and ideas in it, and it’s important to me that I share this with you.
-Dan
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The hundreds of data sets that accompany Lester Brown’s latest book, World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse, illustrate the world’s current predicament and give a sense of where we might go from here. Here are some highlights from the collection.
Wow! I stumbled upon this video today…
…and it really sums up how fossil fuels have powered human growth and ingenuity for centuries — all in 5 short minutes!
Now that we’re reaching the end of cheap and abundant oil and coal supplies, we’re in for an exciting ride. While there’s a real risk that we’ll fall off a cliff, there’s still time to control our transition to a post-carbon future.
This amazing animated short movie is written and narrated by Richard Heinberg, author of many related books.
Be sure to watch it and let me know what you think by commenting below!
If you’d like to learn more about renewable energy, and solar energy options, be sure to visit our web site, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.
- Dan
If you’re looking for a great read that discusses creating a sustainable future…
…I highly recommend reading Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman. You know may his other work, The World is Flat.
Here’s a description from Amazon:
“Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the astonishing expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a planet that is “hot, flat, and crowded.” Already the earth is being affected in ways that threaten to make it dangerously unstable. In just a few years, it will be too late to fix things–unless the United States steps up now and takes the lead in a worldwide effort to replace our wasteful, inefficient energy practices with a strategy for clean energy, energy efficiency, and conservation that Friedman calls Code Green.”
Let me know what you think!
Dan
Can you believe that my dad, Ward Jr., started installing solar pool heaters here in Southwest Florida over 35 years ago?
Here I am with my dad, and grandpa, in 1978 celebrating the Grand Opening of our new store in Cape Coral – at the very location we’re at today! 
Back in the day, it wasn’t about ‘going green’ and ‘renewable energy’ – the gas crisis of the 70′s made solar pool heating much more attractive.
I was fortunate enough to be invited by my dad to participate in this wonderful new technology!
Solar pool heating has always been the most economically viable form of solar energy. It’s always made economic sense.
Today, 35 years later, we’ve expanded our products to include more than just solar pool heat – we also offer:
What’s interesting is how the use of solar energy plays a big role in our goals today relating to ‘going green’ and committing to a sustainable future.
Who knew this is where I’d be today!
I’m really excited that we’re taking our business to a new level using the power of the Internet to help people just like you create your energy independence.
I’m extremely proud to introduce our new online initiatives:
I want to thank Charly, and his team at Internet Services Group of Florida, LLC, for helping create & deploy our online connection to you! (Be sure to read his blog post about the Top 5 Results from Going Green).
It’s really important to me that you let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, as well.
Thanks!
Dan
