Options for Delaware

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Permalink Reply by Kara Cumiskey on July 11, 2008 at 6:03am

In the end, I think the solution will be multi-faceted. Using technology to reduce our energy consumption will be just as important as producing new forms of energy. I am still amazed at how slow builders and building codes are at embracing such changes. If your electricity cost goes up 50%, but your consumption goes down by 1/2, you're still ahead when the bill comes.


I am involved in a group that is trying to build a Community Aquatics Facility in central DE. We are committed to making the facility as "Green" as we possibly can. Our plan is to build a Monolithic Dome for energy efficiency. This is a long proven technology (like wind) that has been slow to catch on despite its many benefits. But all new buildings (especially community buildings) should be designed to minimize energy consumption.

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Permalink Reply by John on July 11, 2008 at 4:25pm

I think that any new community building should provide at least as much energy as it can to use, esepecially a government owned one. As a taxpayer, I don't get off with just helping to pay the initail building cost for an ever fattening government, but I then have to help pay to heat and cool said project. Then, the politicians who are trying to grow the government at astronomical rates wants more money from me to not only pay for the heating and cooling, but to build their next project. This as I am trying to find ways to help the general population get off the grid themselves.

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Permalink Reply by Patti Persia on July 12, 2008 at 6:00pm

The short sightedness of our government astounds me. I have been interested in solar power and wind power for a long time. I do not understand how our government will pay peoples electric and heating bills each month, but not consider adding solar panels instead. So much money is wasted making everyone else rich. Some places are really embracing these ideas. Funland in Rehoboth added solar panels. The new Milford city government office has them, so there is hope. I cannot afford to add solar energy to my home. I wish the state would offer low interest loand as well as the grants to hep people that may not otherwise be able to get the money together.

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Permalink Reply by John on July 12, 2008 at 6:48pm

Patti,
Delaware has matching funds that will pay up to 50% of solar panels for the home, but there isn't a local installer to my knowledge, that specializes in the work. My research has taken me to Jersey dealers. Can you say outrageous prices. For my home prices are about $20K which means I would have to have $10K if the state matched the whole 50%. Plus I have to get a couple huge oak trees removed (another $4k or so). So, what I would like to do on a local level (as in Delaware wide) is form an organization of volunteers that will help each other with these projects, funding, and filling out state grant paperwork so we can get off the grid for less.

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Permalink Reply by John on July 19, 2008 at 9:21pm

The Pickens Plan will lead us down the road to energy independence, but, like all other options, will take some time. The expected time right now seems to be about 10 years. True, work has already begun, but it takes time to build the infrastructure required to produce and transport electricity and convert to CNG cars. So, try not to get distracted or off target. The plan will need help and support for years. And, like any good movement, should spur other growth in other areas of the country.
Right now, we should all be focused on one goal: getting off foreign oil. Our economy and country cannot survive if we continue this unhealthy addiction.
While the Pickens Plan is a slow move toward that goal, we can speed our progress by doing everything we can locally and encouraging family and friends to do the same. What can we do locally? Well, the first thing is to either drive less or move to a more efficient vehicle. Research your local electric utility and encourage renewable energy such as wind, solar, nuclear and hydroelectric. If, like me, you use a utility that burns foreign oil to produce electricity, do everything you can to limit your use or get off the utility entirely. Shop for locally grown food items at local farmers markets and butcher shops to reduce the shipment of goods across the country. Telecommute if possible. Grow some of your own vegetables in a garden. Compost food items to limit garbage truck trips to landfills.
And one of the most important things is to recycle. Foreign oil is used to produce plastic bottles, jugs and even trash bags. Recycling other metals reduces the digging and trucking ore and heating the foundry to produce aluminum and tin. Start recycling at work.
Since composting and recycling, my weekly trash has been cut by 75%. I put more recyclables out than garbage. I grow many of my own vegetables at home and use the dreaded CF light bulbs.
If every American would do the same, the savings would be incredible. So let’s stay focused on becoming energy independent by doing our part every day.

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Permalink Reply by David Quigley on October 10, 2008 at 11:28am

There are a bunch of folks in Delaware that install Solar and do a good job. I have used the same dealer twice, they installed a 3.6kw system, and then a year later I had them install a 1.8Kw system on top of that. I also had damage from a storm, and they were out here the next morning to fix the damage. Good customer service and good prices. What most people don't understand is, if you pay $200 a month for elec, that comes out to $2400 a year. If you install a system that brings your usage down to around $50 a month, your saving $150 a month and $1800 a year. Your system is paid for in 1/2 by the state, then you get to sell your Green Energy Credits. I have been avg between 800-1200$ a year, and at this rate my system would of paid for itself in 3-5 years. After that, it's all bonus. The system have a 10 year on most parts and 25 years on the solar panels, so if i get 10 years, out of it, I'm way ahead monetarily and helping the env. If I maintain my system, I should easily get the 25 years out it.

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