In the October 09 issue of the AARP Bulletin Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam Proof Your Life, reports on the dangers comsumers face when seeking to convert their homes to more energy efficient fuel options. Kirchheimer notes that the increase of governmental programs, tax credits and rebates is accompanied with an increase in fraud and scammers seeking to prey on the unaware.
So I am not an electrical engineer, I am a retired GISP (Geographic Information Systems Professional) and that in no way makes me an expert on the subject of solar power units, renewable energy resources or magnetic generators that produce five times the power they require to run. I have however personally received a PG&E bill for over $700 (for a household of five for one month) and that in itself was motivation enough to start me asking questions and looking for alternative energy options.
A quick Google search provided over 32 million references to the term “solar power”… a little overwhelming to say the least. So where do you begin if you know nothing about a subject and want to become, if not an authority, at least an educated consumer? Some might advise you to stay clear of the the internet and Google but I am not one of those purists. I LOVE the internet and Google.
There was a time when I loved the library and would spend hours flipping through indexes and making notes, but not anymore. This may have been the result of country budget reductions which caused shorter library hours and or my loss of student privileges when I finally received my bachelor’s degree but whatever the cause, I now find the internet a much handier resource.
Of course caution must be taken when looking for information on the internet to assure that you are getting credible data and not marketing hype but that was always true with print media because things weren’t always TRUE just because they were printed in a book.
So who do we believe?
There are some tried and true publications out there like Consumer’s Report that are dedicated to bringing the straight scoop to their readers. Another source I favor, has been publishing since 1987. It is a magazine called HomePower. It is available in print or online for a reasonable subscription cost. As with most publications, you will find advertising but you will also find excellent guidelines for getting stared with renewable energy, an extensive glossary of terms and articles about the latest developments in the field.
HP is available in print or electronic format. A subscription entitles owner to download a pdf copy of each month’s issue but online access includes a search feature that give the reader access to previously published articles. Since HP has been published monthly since 1987 that’s a lot of knowledge at your fingertips. If you can’t find answers to your questions in the regular publication, HP also offers links to articles on specific topics such as green building, cash benefits of using renewable energy, and the latest energy fairs. These “REsources” are updated regularly from current articles in HP.
Join me in my pursuit of green energy and lower energy bills at DIYEnergy-Net.
Susan Young is a retired GIS Professional who is spending her golden years learning to blog and design web sites for her friends and family members. Susan also publishes DIYEnergy-Net.
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Wind power is one of the fastest growing forms of alternative energy in the world. More and more, wind power mills are seen in the countryside, in large wind farms and for the most part, away from city life. But a new form of wind power is now designed to work in an urban environment. VOA producer Zulima Palacio has the story. Mill Arcega narrates.
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See this solar panel system with lights. Inexpensive, easy to install, reduce your power bill. Cheap Solar Power. Cheap Home System. See my part 2 video.
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