Supplemental Home Energy Systems

We have all been told for years that when it comes to recycling and being green that if alot of people do just a little the impact is great. I propose that we develop ways to supplement our energy needs to reduce our demand on current energy sources such as coal generated electric. We need affordable Supplemental Home Energy Systems to offset that demand.

My Proposal is to develop a supplemental energy system for a home that costs between $3000 and $5000 which can reduce its energy demand by 40% or more. The system must be able to acquire its energy from a natural source (solar, wind, geothermal, water, etc.), store any excess energy for later use during times of non-generation, and be able to tie into the homes main power comming from the grid.

Reasoning - Most of us can not afford the $25k to install a full solar system on our homes and the payback period is, well, not reasonable. Staying tied to the grid means we still have the reliability of power that we are used to for those times when other systems go into non-generation. If an affordable system becomes available then this opens the opportunity to alot more people to join in, $3000 to $5000 is a likely affordable target range for home owners seeking to reduce thier monthly demand and has a reasonable pay back period.

Additionally, I propose a federal supplemental energy assistance program for home owners who install such a system. How about a tax incentive or coupon to aid in paying for the system. Having such a program may just be enough to make a Supplemental Home Energy System affordable to much larger groups of people.

Thanks for reading...let me know what you think.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by vinceprince on August 27, 2008 at 11:49am: I think that mass production of personal energy generation systems will bring prices down over the years. For now, I believe the most affordable system is geothermal systems which cools the home over the summer and warms it over the winter. It should be integrated to the building code for any new constructions, residential and commercial.

I believe this system deserves more attention than it is currently getting.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rodney Reynolds on August 27, 2008 at 7:06pm: I had the same thoughts. Truely it should be a required aspect of building codes for residential and other areas of benefit. And this is excatly what it will take to make these changes a reality, intorduction of laws that promote such technology. Thanks for the comment.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by A. Jamie O'Donnell on September 2, 2008 at 7:28pm: I completely agree that home based energy generation can greatly reduce our national energy demand. I live in the sun belt. The installation of solar panels, that were tied into the grid, on every roof would generate an enormous amount of energy.
Individuals would benefit financially. The community would benefit from decreased demand on public utilities.
The problem becomes how to finance this improvement. I propose a combination of tax credits and low interest loans. This type of program would be an economic stimulus to the nation because that panels would be manufactured in the USA and installed by American workers.
It would be a much more effective stimulus than the $600 check that most people used to pay bills.
We can solve the energy problem! We just need to work together to create the solutions.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Blackman on September 22, 2008 at 4:31pm: There is such a system already. It is called a ground source heat pump(GSHP). There is more free renewable energy just under your feet than you can imagine. Most people do not know this but 6 feet down almost anywhere in the world the temperature is 50 to 55 degrees fahrenheit all year long. This system could be a supplemental system or replace an existing system. In the winter it is a heat source and in the summer it is a heat sink.
Basically you run a continuos loop of piping in your back yard 6 feet down and run glycol through the pipes and run this to a heat exchanger for the heat pumps. More details go to http://renewableenergy101.wordpress.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gary Fosburg on September 24, 2009 at 2:24pm: If the Pickens plan (which I support) supported a National Energy Lottery (see blog below) proposal and the 4 million followers donated 5 bucks a week for this Energy Raffle, there would be 800 winners a week or 41,600 winners a year of a $25,000 voucher good only for Renewable products, ie; solar, wind, hybrid, energy green appliances, etc...and be fully transferrable as well. Take advantage of the Fed's energy credit and it would buy around $32,000 worth of Green product/s.

If the Pickens Plan ran this program and retained 10% for operations, not only would it generate further income for the cause but the donators would have some fun with the potential of winning this voucher and 25,000 to 1 odds. Better than a money lottery that doesn't promote going green.

At $20,000,000 a week @ 10%, that's $2,000,000 for the Pickens Plan for operations. Would certainly be enough for expanding the mission. That's over a Billion for the year! Maybe take that money and invest in a windmill manufacturing company that is owned by the workers. Spread the prosperity and have it Made in USA by the owners/workers. see entire plan at: http://nationalenergylottery.blogspot.com/
Also an inventor who has developed a prototye called Road Power. Will convert downhill vehicle traffic 24/7/365 to electricity alongside the highways of America. No Sun, Wind, Water, Land required. One unit will power approximately 3 homes per year. Looking for Angel Investors to take to next level. Would be a great asset to the Pickens Plan to get us off foreign oil even faster. Thank you, Gary; ▶ Reply to This