Recently, I was playing around with creating an acronym for the Energy and Food Independence for Florida…
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? 
- Dan
Where are you going to be September 23 through October 2 of this year?
Every two years, the U.S. Dept. of Energy holds a week-long event at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. called the Solar Decathlon.
This year, twenty university teams from around the country (and a few international) will compete to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are:
Four universities in Florida are collaborating on one entry called: FleX House.
I’ve wanted to go for years… and so this is the year I’m going, and I’m extremely excited!
If you, or someone you know, might be interested in this event, be sure to share this blog post with them.
I plan on taking photos while I’m there, and I’ll share them after my return, too.
As you may know, I own & operate Fafco Solar in Southwest Florida, and our passion is helping people use the power of Solar & Renewable Energy. Be sure to see our list of solar & renewable every services, or give a call at (239) 574-1500 if you’d like to learn more.
Complete information on the Solar Decathlon is available at:
and on the FlexHouse is available at:
Here’s to creating amazing solar & renewable energy solutions!
Enjoy!
- Dan
If you have been waiting for a new rebate program to invest in solar, your time has come. Florida Power and Light, our state’s largest utility has just announced a NEW and Improved solar rebate program!
Beginning June 21, Florida Power & Light (FPL) will begin offering a rebate for solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar domestic hot water systems.
The rebates will require an application and pre-approval, and are available on a first come-first served basis.
Your early planning is critical because rebate funding is limited. Contact us, and we’ll help you through the application process to give you the best chance of qualifying for this exciting solar incentive.
The FPL photovoltaic rebate is $2 per installed watt of solar power with a limit of $20,000 for residences and $50,000 for businesses.
A typical 5 kilowatt residential grid-tied solar electric (photovoltaic) system would qualify for a $10,000 rebate, drastically increasing your return on investment!
Solar water heating systems qualify for a $1,000 rebate!
Coupled with a currently available 30% Federal Tax Credit and the lowest prices ever for solar energy systems, there has never been a better time to GO SOLAR!
If you have any questions about the FPL Solar Rebate, or would like to learn more about how we can help you – please contact us, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.
Thank you,
Dan
WOW! 17 dollars and 74 cents…
That’s how much my Florida Power & Light (FPL) electrical bill was in March of this year…
The amazing thing?
The thought came to me…
(Special Thanks to Charly from Internet Services Group for this beautiful photo of McGregor Blvd in Fort Myers!)
“I wonder how many people are using solar energy, in any way, here in Fort Myers?”
I’m really interested to hear how you’re tapping into our one of best natural resources here in Fort Myers – the sun! Please let me know by commenting below.
As you may know, my company, Fafco Solar, offers many ways to use solar & renewable energy such as:
Thank you,
Dan
Are you tired of waiting for someone to solve the energy problem?
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.
I have a new love: backyard organic gardening…
Since I’ve never done gardening before, I have everything to learn.
My first goal has been to learn how to make good, healthy, sustainable dirt, which lead me to BIOCHAR.
I first heard about Biochar in Ode Magazine (July 2010), in this article. Then I found another article, of all places, in Solar Today (Jan 2011), in this article.
(It’s funny… in two completely different magazines to which I subscribe, I found articles about the same, unique subject!)
BIOCHAR may be an important step in Florida becoming energy and food independent.
My first lesson in gardening – good, healthy, sustainable food requires good, healthy, sustainable dirt.
If you’re thinking Solar Energy, or Renewable Energy, and you’re in Southwest Florida, be sure to visit our web site at www.FafcoSolar.com, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.
Happy Gardening!
- Dan
Whether its random kindness or hoping to discover something in common, it always feels good when a stranger asks, “Where ya from?”
It happened, again, when Nancy and I were on vacation in Southwest Colorado.
We were about half way into a tour of a cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde (see below to learn about Mesa Verde), when a couple, who heard we were from Florida, started the following conversation…
“What part of Florida are you from?”
“Fort Myers.”
“Oh?! We’re from Cape Coral.”
“Oh?! That’s where my business, Fafco Solar, is.”
“Fafco Solar?! We were just there three weeks ago!!”
Here’s my thought for the Thanksgiving weekend…
A very special thank you to Charly Caldwell for introducing me to Alan Maltz’s “Free Spirit” (above) — environmental consciousness through fine art, way to go!
Florida Can Be Energy and Food Independent
Florida has an abundance of natural resources.
Plenty of sunshine.
Plenty of (moving) water.
Plenty of land.
There’s enough energy landing on our roofs and
flowing in the Gulf Stream to provide all the power we need.
There’s enough land and water to provide all the food we need.
There’s enough intelligence to make it happen.
How do you feel about this? Please comment below, and I’d love to hear from you…
-Dan
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
