Go Solar Energy For Life

Wow!  2 weeks ago marked 30 years since my father (he founded our company) passed away…

Me, my son, Ian, and my dad, Ward in early 1982 (he passed away June 13, 1982)

I recently came across a 1981 letter written by John O’Lear, the President of FAFCO, Inc. to Zig Ziglar about my father. It is a wonderful tribute to my father’s love of solar energy.

Here’s an example of my father’s unconventional sales techniques…

My father loved to introduce prospects to one of their neighbors, who was also a customer of ours. If you were interested in a solar pool heater, halfway into his presentation, he would say “Come on, let me introduce you to one of your neighbors and we’ll show you how the system works!”

So, into the back of his 1980 Checker Marathon you and your significant other would climb and he would chauffeur you over to the neighbor/customer. His Marathon was the same car that was a popular cab in NYC in the 60′s. There was a lot of room in the back seat… enough for five people! Everyone had a lot of fun with that… and it usually resulted in another happy customer!

A side note: I remember when he first bought the car, he wanted me to install a rack for his ladder on top of the car. I felt so uncomfortable with the idea of drilling a hole in the roof of his brand new car, I refused to do it … so he took the drill and did it himself.

Here’s a photo of my father’s Checker Marathon at our store in Cape Coral over 30 years ago:

Also, here’s the cover letter that John, who wrote letter above, sent to Zig Ziglar, too:

How cool!

- Dan

If personal energy independence is important to you, I think it is appropriate (being an election year) to hear this message, again.  So I’ve reposted my February 4, 2010 post on the topic.  Enjoy!  -Dan

A question that I hear quite frequently regarding solar power energy, is…

What’s the delay?

Why is the transition to the ‘new energy economy’ taking so long?

Back in October of last year, I covered “The Most Common Question About Solar Energy” which is definitely related to this topic (be sure to check it out!)

Anyhow, I just read this article in the January/February 2010 issue of Solar Today, and I wanted to share it with you, you can read it online, or below.

If there’s anything I, or my team at Fafco Solar, can do to help you, please contact us, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.

Have a great day,

Dan

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

Dr. Frank Alcock, Senior Fellow, Collins Center for Public Policy, referring to public opinion about drilling in the Gulf of Mexico two years after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon in April, 2010.

Last December, the Earth Policy Institute shared how fast…

…rooftop solar water heaters are being installed around the world!

This is great news, and very inspiring for us in the USA, and even those here in Southwest Florida!

Practically every home in the US has a water heater.  Water heaters work continuously to keep the water they contain hot, and using the power of the sun is not only environmentally friendly, it reduces your energy bills, adds value to your home, AND extends the life of your hot water tank (they dramatically reduce scaling!)

Be sure to learn more about our solar water heater solutions, and how you can start saving while helping protect our environment!  If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at (239) 574-1500.

The Earth Policy Institute article reviews how:

• China is leading the world – with nearly two thirds of the world’s solar thermal collectors installed.
• Europe, where energy costs are relatively high, rooftop solar water heaters are spreading fast,
• the US rooftop solar water heating industry is a historically concentrated niche market,
• solar water and space heaters in Europe and China often pay for themselves in less than 10 years.

“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:

A Happy New Year to you, your family, and friends!

I’m so happy to be doing what I’m passionate about, and being able to do it while we’re seeing such a great evolution with Solar & Renewable Energy solutions. The realization, adoption, and results generated from these solutions are simply mind-blowing.

More energy can be captured, and utilized, with today’s solutions – less expensively – than ever before.

If you’d like to learn more about solar and renewable energy solutions – feel free to comment below, contact us online or give us call at (239) 574-1500.

Be sure to take a look at all of our wonderful online resources as well:

• Solar Pool Heater- save by using the sun to heat your pool!
• Solar Water Heater NEW! – save by using the power of the sun to heat your water!
• Solar Electric Photovoltaic System – save by powering your home with solar energy!
• Solar Lights – save by using natural light for your home!
• Solar Attic Fan – save by using the sun to remove heat from your home!
• Solar Pool Pump – save by using the sun to power your pool pump!
• Pool Automation – save by automating your chlorination, pump timing and heating!
• Solar Water Pump – save by not having to bring in costly utility lines!
• Hybrid Solar Air Conditioning NEW! – save between 30-50% on your air conditioning!
• Solar Breeze Pool Skimmer – save time and money with an automated pool skimmer!
• Home Energy Monitoring NEW! – monitor your energy use and find ways to save!
• Solar2Go NEW! – mobile solar power – trailer mounted solar generator!

We service the following areas in Southwest Florida -  Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Bonita Springs, or Hendry or Glades Counties.

We also service all brands of solar equipment! Find out what solar equipment services we perform here.

Learn More about cost-efficient solar energy.

Discover how you can improve our environment by using renewable energy for life. Check our Resources page.

Thank you so much, and here’s to a renewable energy world!

-Dan

In my June 3, 2009 blog post, titled “Changing My Mind on a Dime” – I talked about using the sun to power cars soon….

Well, guess what?  It’s here!

Earlier this year, Ford, and Sunpower agreed to a partnership that will allow purchasers of Ford plug-in vehicles the ability to charge their cars.

Sunpower’s president and CEO, Tom Werner, says “This is taking solar power mainsteam” – and I think he’s right!

The Ford-Sunpower “Drive Green for Life” program will install enough panels on a customers roof to satisfy the energy demands for an electric vehicle that drives about 1,000 miles per month.

Learn more about this wonderful advancement in this PC Magazine article.

Good times ahead, that’s for sure!

- Dan

If you’re not sure what Solar PV is, be sure to read “What are solar photovoltaic systems?” on our FafcoSolar.com web site.

Now, the big question is “How does Florida rank in Solar PV?” as compared to the rest of the US…

Earlier this year, Solar Today released a chart showing by state, the:

• PV watts per resident,
• PV installed to date, and
• on-the-year market growth.

Florida ranks 6th in the country for megawatts of PV capacity.

California, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada lead the way.

The same study ranks Florida 13th in PV watts-per-resident,which is perhaps the best way to measure the progress of solar energy.

If you’re interested in seeing how the other 50 states stack up, be sure to visit this page in the July/August 2011 issue of Solar Today online.

Enjoy!

- Dan

Every time I receive an update from the Rocky Mountain Institute, I find it very inspiring, and…

…they seem to be on target all of the time.

Recently, they published the 10 Facts About Our Energy Landscape, which are:

1. The US burns 13 millions barrels of oil a day (half imported) at a cost of $2 billion!
2. The US’s 120 million buildings consume 42% of the nation’s energy.
3. We spend more than $400 billion a year to heat and power buildings.
4. US industry employs about 131 million people and generates over 40% of the US GDP, using roughly one-fourth of the nation’s total energy per year.
5. 86% of US electricity is generated in large, centralized power plants.
6. By 2050, if we make efficiency a goal, and switch from oil, coal and one-third less natural gas to renewable energy, we’d save a net $5 trillion!
7. By 2050, a $2 trillion investment to make cars, trucks and planes more efficient, and more effectively used would save $5.8 trillion.
8. Building’s energy use can be 40 to 60% more efficient in 2050 than today – despite 70% more floorspace.
9. US industry can produce about 84% more output with 9 to 13% less energy.
10. We can capture and integrate the renewable energy needed to meet 80% or more of our electricity needs by 2050.

Interesting, isn’t it?  Be sure to read the entire post, and comment below if you’d like to share your thoughts on this.

Thank you,

- Dan