The quote of the week is:
“The solution to climate change is energy policy.” ~ Sen. John Kerry
A week ago yesterday (January 24, 2012), Senator John Kerry secretary of state confirmation hearing, and started with the quote I posted above…
You can learn more by reviewing this EcoWatch post - I’d love to hear what you think about it – please comment below.
The tide is turning!
Dan
I hope you enjoyed my blog posts through 2012!
I just wanted to send you Happy New Year wishes for 2013, and thank everyone who made 2012 such a great year for us, too.
If there’s any way we can help you use the power of the sun to:
Be sure to let us know. 
Have a wonderful 2013, and I’ve got some great posts in mind – stay tuned!
-Dan
In my readings, recently I discovered this good and very important information regarding the question:
Should the Sunshine State Do More to Support The Development of Solar Energy?
I thought it’d be great to share some of the opinions expressed in regard to this question — I’m going to share one per blog post, over the next few posts, here’s the first one!
Enjoy!
-Dan
Carrie Cullen Hitt
VICE PRESIDENT, SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
In Florida, solar energy meets a number of criteria that would be attractive to consumers and investors who would want a solar industry to develop there. The criteria include the state’s utility rates, its hours and intensity of sunshine and the growing energy demand. In fact, our association looks closely at Florida every year in search of industry progress. But Florida has a number of challenges.
During one weekend this past May –
50% of Germany was powered by solar energy!
(Isn’t that inspiring?)
Read the full article here:
There’s no reason we can’t accomplish that, too… in the not-too-distant future… if we want to.
More and more people, here in Southwest Florida, are choosing to go solar for themselves each year.
Awesome!
If you’d like to learn how my company, Fafco Solar, can help you use the power the sun provides — be sure to visit our website at: www.FafcoSolar.com!
Dan
Recently, I read two energy stories that present an interesting story, it’s exciting news, and I thought you might enjoy it too!
The first is that according to the eNewsletter I received (photo above) there was a:
“nationwide decrease of 22.8% in net electricity generation from coal between April 2011 and April 2012.”
The second I read in the July/August 2012 issue of Solar Today, and it mentions that:
“US Solar installs rose 88% in the first quarter of 2012.”
That is VERY exciting! The best part is that I think these are trends we’ll continue to see in the foreseeable future – and it makes me glad.
Here are some of the existing ways we help people reduce their carbon footprint by cost-effectively going solar:
If you have any questions, please contact us, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.
Enjoy, and have a great day,
-Dan
In my previous post, I talked about having a personal 10-year Energy Independence Plan, and promised I’d share how I’m doing with mine…
Personally, I am 5 years into my own 10-year energy independence plan.
In 2006, my average monthly electric bill at home was $157.
In 2011, after renovating our house with Energy Star appliances; replacing a hurricane damaged roof with a white metal roof; and after installing every solar product my company offers, my average monthly electric bill is down to $50.
Be sure to read my 5/10/11 blog post, “How I Saved Over 70% in 1 Year!“)
I’m happy with the results, but I’m not done. And honestly, I’m not sure what my next step is, but that’s my point: I don’t have to know…
I just have to keep my eyes and mind open and something will show up someday.
So, start now and declare your own energy independence!
If you wait for someone else to solve your energy problem, you might not be happy with their solution. Setting yourself free may be the only way it’s ever going to happen, and… it’s very gratifying!
- 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:
Once I stepped inside, I knew…
(Photo used with permission from Paul Shahriari – www.FLGreenHouse.com)
…I’d found the most beautiful kitchen in the world! 
It was absolutely break taking – aside from its very functional design – the fact that it was flooded with natural daylight really took it over the top!
Some light entered the room through windows on the north and south sides of the house, too.
But most of the light was provided by two tubular skylights centered in the ceiling. The combination created a very enjoyable feeling… I just wanted to stand there and breathe in the natural light.
Paul’s Florida High Performance Green House is located right here in Cape Coral, Florida, and he shares ALL of the details of this unique learning opportunity, including:
Be sure to learn more about Paul’s project at: www.FLGreenHouse.com.
How inspiring!
Enjoy,
- Dan
PS – Did you know we have 21 tubular solar skylights that light up our office’s at FafcoSolar? Come in sometime, and see for yourself, it’s really cool!
Recently, Dominic Zito, our Sales Manager, was interviewed…
…by ABC-7 about high-level energy officials from the Department of Energy coming to the Suncoast to meet with local officials talking about energy programs.
Including those that may bring green jobs to the area!
In the interview, Dominick said “We should absolutely be the front runners in solar energy. The more installations I have, the more of my employees I have on the road working. Hopefully down the line hiring more sales staff and technicians.”
To learn more about solar power, be sure to visit the “Go Solar” section of our web site!
If you’d like to read the article, click here.
Enjoy!
-Dan
Over 27,000 people went to Solar Power International – a power conference & trade show in Los Angeles held last week, and there was good reason for excitement…
The US Solar Electric Industry, including both solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) installations could achieve a milestone by installing a gigawatt of new capacity in 2010!
That’s enough to power 200,000 homes, and it’s double capacity installed in 2009.
Rhone Resch, the president & CEO of Solar Energy Industries Assocation (SEIA), which organized the event with the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), said:
“We now live in a world where you can be born in a solar hospital, get educated in a solar school, go to a solar college and while there drink beer brewed at a solar brewery.
Get married in a solar church, go to work in a solar office building, watch your favorite baseball team in a solar stadium and live in a country protected by the world’s best armed forces powered by solar. And I’m hopeful that when I get to that magic age, my kids have the opportunity to put me in a solar-powered nursing home.
The breadth and depth of solar in our lives is amazing.”
Be sure to learn all about the multiple forms solar power can take here in Southwest Florida:
If you have any questions, be sure to give us a call at (239) 574-1500 or contact us.
Enjoy!
-Dan
