What can we do to help the poor go solar?

Hi, ya'll. My thoughts about Mr. Pickens' idea are "Wow, someone who cares and actually has a plan". The problem I see is that for the plan to work the money hungry rich would have to bail the country out of the h*** that the money hungry rich put us into. I actually have two(2) ideas on how to help finance these ideas if we can just get the government to do their part. Every time I look at a roof top (and lately with the recent hail damage in my area I've looked at a lot of roofs) I see wasted energy loss. There can be a great amount of energy produced if more roof tops included solar systems, however the people who own these homes can't afford the cost of adding these systems. My first idea (and probably the most unpopular) would be to have congress propose that anyone who makes a certain amount each year (say 100K) would have to donate 1% of their yearly income to provide solar power pannels to those who make less than the proposed amount. Starting with the poorest, working the way up to the middle class, and then finally the rich. Those who already have installed solar systems would get some kind of compensation when their turn came up. Those whose houses would not support a solar system would recieve a wind system or they could choose to opt out and continue with the current power system. These systems would probably not be sufficent to completely get off the grid but would help produce power nationally and help lower energy bills (which helps the economy by giving people more money to spend). The other idea is to have congress propose a 1% federal sales tax which would be put into a fund to provide the systems mentioned above. The advantage to this idea would be the funds are provided by everyone including ,the poor as well as the rich, and immigrants(legal and illegal both). I understand that not everyone would like these ideas and that these ideas could actually hurt some folks, but something has to be done and I fear that we may already be to late. I'd like to hear ideas from others, but please keep the negative criticism to a minimum because it gets us nowhere.

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Permalink Reply by Anachronism on July 21, 2009 at 7:57pm

Luane Todd: Thank you, if you have questions about process to create my passive solar in your home or business, SIMPLY ask! I have the ability to draft drawings for your application, location of air intake into your attic and how simple it actually is in the creation of a passive system. To create a "Passive Cooling system" is simply the building of an attic exhaust method to allow the heated air to "LEAVE" and by the leaving of the hot air, you have now automatically a created a "cooling" cycle. The process explained above is the action of the "HOT" air leaving AT NIGHT or when the air around your attic space is cooled to a specific temperature. The concept of "Cool" is when the evening air-cools down; you simply open the upper most point of your gable roof surface through a Two-foot diameter vent which by natural air action allows the hot air in the attic to exhaust out of the attic space “WHICH CREATES SUCTION” and the outside air at your lowest point/attic surface “SUCKS IN COOL AIR” TO REPLACE THE HOT AIR LEAVING THROUGH THE VENT IN THE PEAK OF THE ROOF! When a temperature sensor that you have placed in your attic indicates the “COOL” is of suitable temperature, you simply close the vent at the top of your roof and turn on your suction system and "SUCK" this cooler air into your living space. BY THE EXPLAINED ACTIONS YOU NOW HAVE CONSTANT COOL AIR ENTERING YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND SIMPLY DECIDE HOW COOL YOU WANT YOUR RESIDENCE. In my project in Vancouver I built a simple control box with required sensors and simple 12 volt(DC) motors to operate the vents and automatically creates each operation and the thermostat in your home then determines their actions. LUANE, it works if you want it too. THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!! Look at the pictures on my site and I can send you other photos or drawings to further clarify concepts. I designed, drafted and completely constructed and owned all the projects shown. You can create your own system and simply watch nature closer then you have in the past. NEVER be afraid and be aware that whatever you need to KNOW is simply in front of your eyes and trust the ideas that come to you. I started my first business at 1953 at 13 years old, selling slacked lime and sand to a brick mason whom then added cement into my mix to build brick exterior walls for homes. DO SOMETHING AND SHOW OTHERS HOW TO DO THE SAME!!!

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Permalink Reply by Luane Todd on July 21, 2009 at 9:30pm

I like the DO SOMETHING and SHOW OTHERS HOW TO DO part of your mindset. My standard approach for many years. Doesn't generate a lot of money but I like myself a lot.

I understand the principle very well, just had never thought about how to actually implement it.

I really do grasp the concept of what is in front of my eyes and trusting what they tell me. That was the operating system of my pasture management system for 25 years and it ran quite well, thank you very much.

I also agree that the money you don't spend is a more dependable 'source of income' than chasing a buyer for something you have to spend a lot of money doing. Same 25 year experiment. It is amazing how little it matters what the cost of an input is when you aren't using it. AND, you have a really good handle on what your costs are when you are providing most if not all of your inputs yourself. You can project a long way into the future when you are in that position.