Go Solar Energy For Life - Just another WordPress weblog

Go Solar Energy For Life

Just another WordPress weblog

Light Your (reinvented) Fire

Posted by Dan On January 27th

“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 –

Reinventing Fire Solar and Renewable Energy Solutions 291x350 Light Your (reinvented) Fire

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:



How Does Florida Rank in Solar PV?

Posted by Dan On December 7th

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

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

Solar PV 500x339 How Does Florida Rank in Solar PV?

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…

Rocky Mountain Institute 491x350 Todays Energy Landscape   What You Need To Know

…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

Once I stepped inside, I knew…

Solar Skylights A Beautiful Kitchen Lit by the Sun 500x327 Solar Skylights   A Beautiful Kitchen in Cape Coral

(Photo used with permission from Paul Shahriari – www.FLGreenHouse.com)

…I’d found the most beautiful kitchen in the world! icon smile Solar Skylights   A Beautiful Kitchen in Cape Coral

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:

  • the cost/benefit of green building,
  • exactly what green elements are used in this project,
  • real-life data of energy consumption (this is amazing!), and so much more!

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!

Solar Jobs Remain Sunny Spot in the US

Posted by Dan On October 28th

Here is some good news concerning jobs… and I’m glad to be doing my part!

Solar Solutions and Jobs 500x305 Solar Jobs Remain Sunny Spot in the US

The article reviews how the solar industry employed 100,237 people as of August 2011, which is 6.8 percent more than last year.

I’ve hired two people so far this year and I’m looking to add a couple more before the year’s out.

I’m always looking for good people who want to help create a really cool world in which renewable energy rules!

- Dan

Recently, I was playing around with creating an acronym for the Energy and Food Independence for Florida…

Florida LIFE Thought for the day   Florida LIFE   Energy & Food Independence

Some of my ideas were:

eFiF, EFIF, iEFF, eFFi, FLefi, FEFI, FeFi, FLORife…

but here’s the one I like the best:

LIFE: a Love for Independent Food and Energy.

I continued massaging the idea:

Florida LIFE, A Peaceful Florida LIFE.

What do you think? icon wink Thought for the day   Florida LIFE   Energy & Food Independence

- Dan

Imagine a farming lifestyle that’s ‘beyond organic’, and completely…

Polyface Farms 500x125 Renewable Energy: Polyface Farms is inspiring!

…transparent.

Transparent in the sense that you can visit the farm, producing the food you eat, anytime.  No secrets, no locked doors, and every corner being camera accessible.

It’s here, and I’m inspired!

The farm is called Polyface Farms, and they’re located in Swoope, Virginia.

They have some very powerful Guiding Principles:

  • Transparency – Come, visit, and see everything for yourself!
  • Grass-based – All animals are moved frequently to new “salad bars”!
  • Individuality – Respecting and honoring the pigness of a pig is a foundation for societal health.
  • and more!

Be sure to learn more about their story, and how inspiring they are, if you have a chance!

If you would like to learn more about creating a sustainable future, and the solar energy options that help create it, be sure to contact us online, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.

Thank you,

- Dan

 

Back in November of last year…

Florida Can Be Energy Independent 493x350 Gulf Stream Power Concept becoming a reality!

I made the bold statement that Florida could be energy independent, in part, by using the Gulf Stream to power the east coast of Florida.

Well, today, you can learn more about how that will become a reality!

SmartPlanet.com’s blog post is titled:

“University moves toward powering Florida with the Gulf Stream”.

Think about how much energy we’d be able to harness from the ever powerful Gulf Stream!

If you’re excited as I am, be sure to read their post, and let me know what you think (simply add a comment below).

If you would like to learn more about creating a sustainable future, and the solar energy options that help create it, be sure to contact us online, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.

Thank you!

- Dan

WOW!  17 dollars and 74 cents…

My Electric Bill 500x186 Solar Energy Savings   How I Saved Over 70% in 1 Year!

That’s how much my Florida Power & Light (FPL) electrical bill was in March of this year…

The amazing thing?

Read the rest of this entry »

Is the Time Right for a Personal Revolution?

Posted by Dan On February 14th

Are you tired of waiting for someone to solve the energy problem?

Energy Problem Into Hands Is the Time Right for a Personal Revolution?

If you’re like me, you might be ready to take matters into your own hands.

But even though you feel ready, you might still be holding back a little.

Well, if that’s the case, I suggest you take a look at “The Cost of Doing Nothing”… an interesting 5 minute video produced by the Florida Solar Energy Center:





Continuing on… You can learn what really happened because we chose to do nothing by reading this article from Renewable Energy World.

Read the rest of this entry »