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July 22, 2008

Carol,

Warnings have been heard for years that the use of kernel corn as a heating fuel would not be viable without fuel and crop subsidies. It has also been criticized on the basis that burning food is dubious on moral and environmental sustainability grounds. The steady rise in the price of oil and gas, which most knowledgeable commentators say is the result of resource depletion combined with rising global demand, is likely to mean that corn and all other crops will become more costly. Even if the high demand for corn caused by the ethanol debacle (good term) eases somewhat, there is little likelihood of the corn price falling back to the low levels of the 1990s.

The price of wood pellets has been more stable, but again, there are concerns. The expected high cost of natural gas and heating oil this coming winter has people rushing to wood heat stores to buy pellet stoves. This trend could create regional shortages of fuel if pellet mills are unable to keep up with demand. Shortages may not occur, but industry insiders have raised the issue already.

Probably the most secure fuel you can choose is regular firewood, but heating with wood can mean a serious lifestyle change. The cost of firewood where you live may not be advantageous depending on population density and the local fuelwood market. Heating with wood means trading convenience for low cost and even security if you are willing to salvage your own fuel. But the decision to heat with wood is a highly personal one that shouldn't be influenced by people outside your household.

Another way to deal with high heating costs is by investing in energy conservation around the house. That type of investment can save you money no matter what fuel you use and it can also increase the comfort of your home.

We are all struggling to deal with these higher prices, although I am sure knowing that doesn't make it any easier.

June 20, 2008

It's appealing to look at a tall building or house and think about putting a turbine on top of it. This would eliminate the cost of the tower and reduce wiring costs. Unfortunately it's not that easy for two reasons.

The first relates to the quality of the wind. By putting a turbine on a building, the turbine will be higher and should get stronger winds, but quality wind is essential if a wind turbine is to produce power. Houses, much like trees, cliffs, and other wind turbines, crea…

June 4, 2008

Good question. Yes, there are currently federal incentives for installing renewable energy. Specifically, there’s a tax credit for installing residential solar energy systems, including solar-electric and solar water heating systems. These incentives don’t expire until the end of 2008. However, I think many people are not aware that the tax credits for solar are still available because a number of other federal energy incentives expired at the end of 2007. (Read more details about th…

May 14, 2008

Windows and solar hot-air collectors are about equal in collection capability. In fact, a window that is designed for collection should beat a dedicated collector, but a lot of windows will not do so well (see note below). I think the choice boils down to which works best for your situation. To me, the pros and cons would go something like this.

Window Pros:

*Collect heat and provide daylight

*Views

*Nice bright interior

*With good thermal mass they can carry some heat into the evening.

W…

May 8, 2008

Usually when people say they are living “off the grid” they mean that, very simply, their home doesn’t get its electricity from the power lines. Instead, they’re living without electricity, or generating their own. However, the term is sometimes used to mean something broader. “Living off the grid” can imply that you’re self-sufficient in other ways, too: For example, you may be getting your water from a well, and heating your home with a woodstove. Being completely off grid would mak…

April 9, 2008

There are several different ways you can purchase green electricity, but in general, options depend on where you live.

The simplest way to buy green power is directly from your current utility. Many utilities already offer green pricing options — the Department of Energy has a good list.

Other locations offer green marketing options. In this case, you choose your own utility, so you can pick one that provides power from sustainable sources.

If neither of these options are available whe…

March 26, 2008

Yes, it looks like there are quite a few wind turbine dealers in Michigan, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one near you.

In general, when you’re looking for information about renewable energy, your state energy office can be a very helpful resource. In this case, the Michigan state energy office has exactly the information you’re looking for. Here’s a link to their pdf brochure of solar and wind power equipment suppliers in Michigan.

Another way to find local wind turbine retai…

March 12, 2008

Yes, if you’re thinking about purchasing a renewable energy system, it’s definitely a good idea to find out about state and local incentives you may qualify for. A good place to start is the Department of Energy’s list of state specific resources. Here’s their information specifically for Texas.

One of the many helpful resources you’ll find on these state pages is contact information for your state energy office. Here’s some specific information on renewable energy incentives from t…

My wind mentor Tupac Diaz always said a wind turbine isn't a toy, it's a baby. He was teaching me to take care of our turbines, making sure everything was working all right because once the baby goes up, it has to face harsh weather. 

A wind turbine can live for 20 to 30 years. Depending on the manufacturer, it will require maintenance once or twice a year throughout its lifetime but it’s a good idea to inspect it in the fall and spring. On good machines, this one or two day a year will be the on…