Hello, friends and bloggers from all around
the world! I’m seeing lots of snow in Europe on Instagram, and blustery
nor’easter pictures from my family up north.
This post continues my discussion of solar
power, with a conversation about our privately-owned energy resources. As
mentioned in my 2.17.18 post, I am a student at the Patel College of Global Sustainability, and I’m currently learning about the Food, Energy, and Water
Nexus with Dr. Thomas Culhane, and a bunch of very talented and enthusiastic classmates!
We own a
battery-powered lawn mower. It cost approximately $500.00 for the mower and
battery - A bit pricey, but it’s really not much more than some traditional
mowers. And, we save on maintenance by not needing to change oil or spark
plugs, and no purchasing gas, or cleaning a filter. A fully-charged battery will power the mower for 20 minutes or
less, but we live in a townhome, so we have a small front and back yard. We considered
purchasing a second battery, but just the one, 20-minute charge usually takes
care of our needs. It then takes one hour to fully recharge the battery.
In terms of performance and usability, gas
mowers operate for longer periods, but electric does the same job, just for
less time.
We also own an eight-volt electric generator, and
a solar panel, pictured below. The panel hooks up to
the generator with a cord, then we place the panel in the sun for around 20
hours, to fully charge the generator. We can also charge it using a wall outlet, or
in a vehicle, using the cigarette lighter, or the USB port. Our generator will power two or three house fans for about six hours. It
would power our television for about an hour. Our refrigerator, probably not
even an hour.
At this time, we purchase solar power from our city government,
as discussed in the 2.17.18 post. We are excited about this program, and are
happy to participate. But, I don’t believe that any city government should have
a monopoly on all sources of power. Please take a moment to review a Letter to the Editor from Bart Bibler. He seeks to hold governments accountable, and
encourages customers of city-owned solar to take a second look.
Some companies
offer a pay scale, based on income. In some cities, you can write off interest
on your taxes for residential solar. Some questions to consider: What are the
pros and cons of purchasing city-owned solar, versus owning it yourself? Is
your city using local contractors? Is there community stakeholder involvement?Energy customers should take time to examine all options,
become fully informed, and choose their best path.
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| Solar fields forever! |
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| Our battery-powered lawnmower, |
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| Solar Flower Power! |
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| Power up! |
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| We have a very small yard, so 20-ish minutes of power is about enough, for each mow, |
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| Our little solar panel, and electric generator! |
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| Monteli pizzas are made with solar energy! |
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| And they are delizioso! |
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| Small, but strong. My friend Julie agrees! |
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| Cute, but powerful! |
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| Anyone know what this is?:) |
