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Entries from September 1, 2007 - October 1, 2007
Accessible Solar Now: SunJar
Here's my chance to shine a little light on the anniversary of one of America's darkest days.
Study the diagram above for a how-to on capturing sunshine for light later that night. The high-touch-meets-high-tech quotient is strong, evoking memories for me of catching fireflies in a mason jar.
Do you have a bright idea to share on accessible solar?
Gray Power Mortgages: Seniors can increase energy-efficiency with a reverse mortgage
A big concern for seniors these days is the energy-efficiency of their homes. With home energy costs predicted to rise sharply in the coming years, their concerns are valid. Rising energy costs could have an escalating negative impact on those with a fixed income and limited prospects for increasing earnings. Many seniors are also concerned about how climate change threatens the inheritance of their children and grandchildren.
Turns out that those 62 years and older may have a secret weapon at their disposal for financing energy-efficient improvements to their home.
It's called a reverse mortgage.
Although misconceptions and myths abound, more than 300,000 Seniors have enjoyed the benefits of reverse mortgages since their inception in 1986. That number is predicted to grow exponentially with as many as 16,000,000 reverse mortgages executed by 2010.
Reverse mortgages are loans for seniors 62 and over that allow them to convert a portion of their home's equity into tax-free income. The senior is paid by the lender in a lump sum or monthly installments. No payment on the loan is owed as long as the senior lives or no longer uses the home for their primary residence.
Since the loan can be used for any purpose, these funds can be used to off-set energy expenses. Take solar hot water as an example. Solar hot water generation is the low-hanging fruit of solar power's potential for reducing our energy needs. The technology costs a fraction of photovoltaic with a much quicker return on investment. The technology is low-tech with very little moving parts and low-to-no maintenance to be expected for the typical life expectancy of the senior.
The installation of a solar hot water system for the average-sized home in Atlanta would run in the neighborhood of $6,500. $2,000 of that investment can be recaptured through federal energy tax credits [currently good through December, 2008]. So the system ends up costing about $4,500. The pay-off comes in a savings of energy required for hot water production in the 30 - 80 percent range for the homeowner [50% being the average]. The typical installation will pay for itself in as little as 2 years. This with funds that won't be paid back until the senior dies or sells the house. As energy issues grow, a solar hot water system is likely to increase the resale value and decrease time on market for the home, as well. All reasons why solar hot water systems frequently make the top ten lists of things you should do now to save energy. Also reasons why China saw the installation of 30,000,000 solar hot water systems in just the last year.
American Baby Boomers have good reason to be anything but lukewarm on solar hot water. They have been some of the most dramatic change agents the world has seen. Using solutions like reverse mortgages + solar hot water, they can continue to do so. With the leading edge of Boomers turning 62 this year, they are poised to capitalize on this benefit to themselves and the planet in record numbers .
Call it Gray Power Mortgages to the rescue.
Contact me at 404.421.9968 for more information on solar hot water sytems and/or referrals to a reverse mortgage specialist.
Burke Sisco
There's an interesting article in USAToday.com on ecologically minded boomers:
There are now 40 million so-called "green boomers" in the United States, according to a survey being released today by AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons. That's more than half of all boomers, which, at 79 million, make up the largest generation in U.S. history.
"Boomers think 'I want to change the world,' " says Tom Nelson, chief operating officer of AARP. "People want to be a part of something."
We shouldn't be surprised by this. Boomers started the green movement back in the 60's. Then it was flower power. Now it's Gray Power!
Source: USAToday.com, Boomers discover that it's easy being green
Accessible Solar Now: Solar Clothes Dryer
For those contemplating alternative energy sources for the home, cost can make solar energy systems seem as distant and untouchable as the sun itself. Still, it has been calculated that the earth receives more energy from the sun in one hour than the world uses in a whole year. The good news is that we can begin tapping into the infinite power of the sun today. When it comes to economy + environment, even small actions if done by lots of people = huge benefits for the planet and it's people.
Take drying your clothes, for example. Alright, I admit that "solar clothes dryer" is an attempt to make clothesline drying sound sexier, but consider this:
- The average family will spend between $100 - $200 per year drying clothes in a clothes dryer.
- Clothesline-fresh clothes smell fresher, feel more natural, and are wrinkle-free.
- Clothes dried outside last twice as long as those dried in a machine [that lint you pull out of the trap after every load is fiber shredded from the clothes you just dried].
- One ton of poisonous gases are created at the power plant each year to run just your family's dryer.
So let's review the benefits: We save money, have clothes that last longer, and don't pollute as much. Seems like a no-brainer, but there are always hindrances to doing the right thing. With the would-be Solar Clothes Dryer Practicioner there are at least three:
- Inconvenience
- Laws
- Aesthetics
Help with No. 1: Global warming is an inconvenient truth, remember? It's going to take a little more work than just tossing them in the electric/gas dryer, but if you want to change the world, begin in your own backyard. Besides, in addition to those warm feelings you'll have on the inside, it's a great way to get a little exercise, burn off some of your own energy, and soak up some sun in the process.
No. 2: Laws can be a little bit more of a problem. HOAs, community covenants, landlord prohibitions, and zoning ordinances are some things that can prevent you from using clotheslines, even if you've overcome Obstacle No. 1. So would you believe there's a Right-to-Dry movement? It's a battle that's being waged across the country. Click here for a link to some legal language if you're ready to take up the washer-soaked banner and fight for your freedom to flap your duds in the wind.
No 3: I suppose aesthetics are one of the primary reasons for the laws restricting outdoor drying. People think that everybody's clothes drying outside will constitute visual pollution. I agree to a degree, but if clothes on a line are such an eyesore, why is there so much clothesline art out there? Google it to see what I mean. [Who would have thunk it?] But how about all of you folks that have all that private, fenced real estate you call your backyard?
Because we live in a condominium, obstacles 2 and 3 are posing a bit of a problem for me and my family practicing solar clothes drying. But I'm not of the tribe of the completely uninitiated when it comes to hanging it out there. Back in '79-'80 when I was still living with my parents, I installed an umbrella rack clothesline like this Breezecatcher in our backyard. My father prohibited drying clothes in the electric dryer during the spring/summer/fall, so every piece of laundry in the house got a turn on this rotating, energy- and space-saving device. [Dad was way ahead of his time in practical energy conservation. I wasn't happy about it back then, but I'm glad he instilled the practices in me now]. This should be a very practical solution for most, including those who have a very small footprint of private property. If you're squeamish about presenting your unmentionables to the public, enclose the rack with some bamboo fencing. The irregularities of the bamboo will allow the breeze to flow through while keeping your undies from public view.
Burke Sisco
Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth makes a great observation at servegodsavetheplanet.org: "In a sun-rich area, it would cost $10,000 to install a photovoltaic system that would supply enough power just to run a family's electric dryer....The clothesline is a fail-safe "solar" device that costs practically nothing."
Burke Sisco
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