For several years now, Americans have wanted to reduce our carbon footprint. That is good and all but the problem is that the political agenda for clean energy is flawed. Personally, I don’t care much about the polar bears. I care about the environment and ecosystem but I am not about to go full hippie for the sake of this planet. 

Politicians want to move away from fossil fuels and “dirty power” and make the shift to solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal, hyrdro-electric and what ever “clean power” we can. So far it hasn’t worked out as the bureaucrats had planned. Barack Obama’s plan for green energy crashed and burned; everything the POTUS does ends up crashing and burning so it was no shock to me when Solyndra failed. Wind turbines are killing the protected American Bald Eagle and they are killing hundreds of thousands of bats. Solar panels are leaking toxic waste into the ground and also killing wildlife. 

I think we get it now, the government should not be managing the “green revolution.” We know from experience that the government is incredibly dimwitted when it comes to doing anything for the “good of the people.” Amtrak has never turned a profit, our nation is 17+ trillion dollars in debt and yea, you all get it. As Ronald Reagan said “All great change in America starts at the dinner table.” Reagan also once said “Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.”  I agree! leave it to the private sector and the American citizen!  Clean energy cannot be achieved until the government steps out of the way. If 5/10 Americans withdrew from the grid and made the solar switch, the economic and environmental benefits would be huge. There are virtually no cons to making this switch either.

You are probably wondering, how we can make a difference. The best thing one can do is to make the switch to a whole-home solar power system. Withdrawing from the power grid and making the switch to solar is not only good for the environment, it is good for your wallet; both in the short and long run. According to Nextstepliving.com, A solar system will increase the resale value of your home by $20,000 for each $1,000 in annual utility costs. Home owners will also recuperate 97% of their investment and because solar panels meet around half of a typical household’s electrical demand, solar panels avoid carbon emissions equivalent to operating two fossil-fuel burning cars for almost 30 years. There are also a variety of financial options that you can take advantage of when purchasing solar panels such as lease, finance and affordable terms. You could also take advantage of possible tax credits. In many cases, you can sell back excess power to your local utility company. Yes that is right, utility companies will buy your excess power and mail you a check! 

Although there are other affordable clean power options available, solar systems are the best option in my opinion. 

Your work doesn’t stop once the system is installed. You will need to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. if you are not sure how efficient your home is, you can schedule an energy efficiency assessment for your home. These assessments usually cost between $70 and $100. 

A quick Google or Bing search will connect you with many options when it comes to buying a whole-home solar system. Before you buy, it is best to shop around. Some  whole-home solar systems are as cheap as $5,000 but the price depends on your exact needs.

Here are is a list of some solar panels and solar power websites:

http://www.mysolarpod.com/buysolarpod

http://energizect.com/residents/programs/residential-solar-investment-program/

http://www.affordable-solar.com/store/solar-panels

http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/app_10_things_about_solar.html

And this will help you calculate how many panels you need: http://www.mysolarpod.com/solarpodsneeded

 

Making the switch to a solar system is not only good for the environment, it is a very smart investment and a very wise decision. Please remember to do your research and make knowledgeable and informed choices before committing money to anything. 

 

-Parker

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” -Benjamin Franklin.