Go Solar Energy For Life

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

Imagine learning in an environment that’s…

…giving its students a relevant, holistic, green education in one of the most amazing environments on the planet (along with being completely off of the power grid!)

That’s exactly what John Hardy, and his wife, Cynthia envisioned a few short years ago as they made this dream a reality in Bali, Indonesia…

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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!!”

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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

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:

• Solar Pool Heater – save by using the sun to heat your pool!
• Solar Water Heater – 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 – save between 30-50% on your air conditioning!
• TED – The Energy Detective – monitor your energy use and find ways to save!
• Solar2Go – mobile solar power – trailer mounted solar generator!

If you have any questions, be sure to give us a call at (239) 574-1500 or contact us.

Enjoy!

-Dan

“There is more to the cost of oil than the ticking numbers at the fuel pump” was the editor…

Image courtesy of National Geographic – Gulf Oil Spill Segment.

…of National Geographic’s October 2010 Gulf Oil Spill segment’s parting comment on Page 4 (Editor’s Note).

After the initial assessment of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill – he speaks the truth…

That cost is becoming increasing visible and painful.

National Geographic has done an excellent job of providing great in-depth coverage of the recent Gulf Oil Spill, and it’s all available online, as well as in print.

Be sure to check out their online photo gallery as well.

If you have a moment, let me know how you feel about National Geographic’s coverage by commenting below.

Thank you,

-Dan

We’re very happy to announce…

…we’ve been awarded a contract to install a 54kW solar electric (photovoltaic) system at the Lee County Public Safety Building.

Even better?

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Here’s an interesting online article from TechCrunch.com’s Green Tech section about…

…energy savings, and really understanding what’s effective.

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