Greenness and DIY Alternative Energy

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

When it comes to alternative energy, or renewable energy as it’s also known, people tend to have different levels of commitment. Very few of us would take the view that, in the modern world, developing cleaner, greener ways of running our affairs is a bad thing. Yet there is a surprising spectrum of people for whom the philosophy of alternative energy has very different meanings

This spectrum has been designated levels of greenness. Let’s work through them:

1. You’re not green at all: For you, the green movement and the ideas around alternative energy don’t really do anything for you. It’s not really for you. You use the electric tumble dryer for your clothes even if the sun is shining outside and you drive to the corner shop in your SUV, even though it’s just a few hundred yards away. You’re happy to buy a takeaway burger and drop a whole pile of trash into the trashcan without thinking about what happens to it. You want to save money though, especially on utility bills.

2. You’re a light green: You have considered getting your electricity from an ecologically responsible supplier but have not got round to it yet. If the weather is dry then you dry your clothes outdoors. You recycle all your plastic and paper. However, you haven’t made the switch from car to bike yet. If you could save money on electricity you’d definitely go for it.

3. You’re a mid-green: You just can’t afford the high cost of professionally supplied solar panels and windmill, much as you love to have them. You recycle your packaging but still enjoy a burger with all its associated trash. You’ve sold your gas-guzzler and bought a small town car to save on gas.

4. You’re dark green: You’re strongly committed to the green movement. You holiday at home, you get rid of your dryer years ago, you use a wood burning stove and grow your own vegetables. You recycle your waste water for the garden. If you could afford it you’d have solar panels and windmills all over the lace and sell energy back to the grid. You sold your car and bought a bike.

What’s is the common thread that links them all? They all want to save money. Well, no matter what shade of green you are, I’ve got good news for you. It’s possible to save a huge amount on your annual utility bills by fitting a collection of solar panels around your house. I don’t care what shade of green you are, you can save money, you can have the satisfaction of building something worthwhile, you can reduce your carbon footprint and maybe even make a few dollars too, into the bargain. A DIY solar panel is the simplest way to save money on your utility bills. So whether you’re a non-green or a dark green it makes sense to take a close look at DIY solar panels and windmills.

Find out a lot more about building your own solar panel and get free design instructions for a flat plate collector panel at http://www.diyalternativeenergy.org