JUST SAYIN’-Let us not fool ourselves. There is simply no convincing argument that would support the assertion that there is an infinite amount of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and bio-fuels (derived from organic matter, such as plants, animals, and fish) to satisfy our ever-growing energy demands now and into the future! What is more critical is the fact that continuing the use of such fuels will lead inevitably to the inviability (let alone the unsustainability) of the world as we know it.
Many business and government entities are currently forming partnerships to seek new ways for developing energy options that will fulfill our needs, such as wind, geo-thermal, and solar. Some of these possibilities are simply not practical for installation on our individual homes, but solar is a choice we can make whose utilization can only produce positive results.
With regard to solar, there are really only two options:
● Outright purchase with rebates from government and utility entities, but whose return on investment would run into many years before breaking even
● Lease which would require no out-of-pocket expenditures.
Personally, when all is said-and-done, I would prefer the lease option. Not only would there be no costs for the equipment, installation, and maintenance to the customer but the solar company would be responsible for repairing any damage to the panels, the roof, and the interior should there be any damage as a result of the solar structures.
For those who have a swimming pool and/or a jacuzzi, thermal solar is a wonderful option. The home-owner (or apartment/condo owner) would no longer need a gas pool heater, thus eliminating the need for maintenance and replacement, and, in so doing, would find that the monthly gas bill would be much lower. [By the way, pool covers are an excellent way to hold the heat in when the pool or jacuzzi is not being used.]
The addition of photo-voltaic solar panels, among other results, would lower the use of electricity which would otherwise be used to run the pool/jacuzzi motors.
Our own Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is working on a new plan to upgrade its technology and improve energy-efficiency. The likely result will be an increase in our costs per kilowatt hour (partly dependent upon a customer’s individual usage) from about 13 cents to around 17 cents with an anticipated increase of about 5% per year for several years to come. Youch!
The DWP is also planning on installing solar panels on all public buildings within Los Angeles (including on the rooftops of all LAUSD schools). This would not only reduce the City’s electric costs but would also lower the costs for the typical rate-payer.
In conjunction with the above, there would be an additional opportunity for customers to become “shareholders” in the program. Such a possibility would be especially helpful for those whose rooftops are not conducive to solar installation or who otherwise would simply not be in a position to have photo-voltaic installed in the first place.
If you are serious about solar, I would suggest you let your fingers do the walking. Check out what neighbors have done and which plan has worked for them. Research a number of solar companies to determine which one is the most reliable and presents the best package.
My husband and I have had thermal solar for years and am delighted with the results. We can use a thermostat to determine the water temperature. Such panels can heat the pool water to 100° or keep the water at a more pleasant 70-80°--whatever is one’s pleasure.
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Because we have a variety of friends and associates who have gone photo-voltaic, we recently looked into what such installations can do for us and have decided to take that step. The plan will keep our bills down (at a flat 17 cents per kilowatt hour for the next 20 years with the option of 5-year add-ons to the lease). We expect our electric bills to be cut substantially and feel comfortable knowing that we can count on the company’s million-dollar insurance to cover all possibilities regarding the program.
There are other payment options, but the one we chose is the best for us.
Because our roof was installed after the earthquake, the timing was perfect to replace the roof before the solar installation. The company has offered a substantial discount on the roof’s replacement, a project which will be completed by one of its roofing sub-contractors. We are relying on their expertise to have everything done by code. Moreover, living in a desert climate, we have opted for “cool” roof installation which will further reduce energy usage (particularly helpful for us with our cathedral ceiling).
Furthermore, as part of the package, the electrical cable (which now crosses over the pool from pole to house) will be moved to a more appropriate location to eliminate the likelihood of electrocution (especially if we are using the pool) should the cable drop into the pool during an earthquake or other catastrophe,.
I encourage everyone to look into these programs. It is, without question, a matter of time before we see our electrical rates rise. Therefore, even if we try to reduce our regular usage in our homes, the rising rates will likely offset such reductions (something which does seem counter-intuitive). However, if solar (photo-voltaic and/or thermal) were utilized, it is indisputable that costs will be reduced in a noticeable and meaningful way.
No question, solar is in our future. Make it our present.
Just sayin’.
(Rosemary Jenkins is a Democratic activist and chair of the Northeast Valley Green Alliance. Jenkins has written A Quick-and-Easy Reference to Correct Grammar and Composition, Leticia in Her Wedding Dress and Other Poems, and Vignettes for Understanding Literary and Related Concepts. She also writes for CityWatch. Views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of CityWatch.)
