'Keep on the sunny side of life' or so the lyrics go. But it's music to our ears when those words translate into savings. In green building, decisions regarding solar energy come first and last. And those decisions affect energy usage for the lifetime of the home. Fortunately solar options are now varied and readily available.

Solar power is divided into two categories; passive and active. The difference being passive uses sunlight for energy without use of active mechanical systems. Key aspects of passive design include optimum placement of the house on the site, the use of thermal mass (materials such as masonry and water that can store heat energy for extended time and prevent rapid temperature changes), and appropriate ventilation and window placement. Active systems collect and convert solar into energy and circulate or store the energy for use.

The renewed interest in solar power is fueled by several factors.
 1. Going green - our nation's commitment to slow the use/abuse of natural resources and environmental cost.
 2. Saving green - homeowners not only want to cut utility bills, but see a return on their investment.
 3. Rebates - substantial tax incentives are being offered by many state and federal agencies.
 4. Aesthetics - an increasing number of products offer architectural integration.

As our most abundant resource, the sun is the cleanest form of energy. Solar energy is an alternative with a lot of potential. On the flip side, solar technology is not without environmental concerns in terms of manufacture of its parts.

Primarily, solar interest is driven by economics.  A lower utility bill is instant gratification, but according to This Old House magazine 'the affordability of installing panels depends more on local utility rates and incentives than on the amount of sunlight you get'. More economic appeal is seen, the article suggests, 'when it comes time to move, solar panels will add to a home's resale value, no matter where you live. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, home values rise an average of $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills.'  The payback period of a system is harder to determine, but with good incentives can be recouped in as little as 7 to 8 years.  Read the whole article by clicking here, 'The Scoop on Solar Power'. 

Rebates and incentives make solar energy systems more affordable. The US Department of Energy website states 'consumers who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), and other residential renewable energy systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016'. Savings increase with the added benefit of rebates offered by some utility companies. General guidelines call for 1 kilowatt, or 1,000 watts, per 1,000 square feet of house area. Your contractor will help to determine the right size system for your home based on your annual utility usage. Depending on where you live, a system could cost anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000 installed (before rebates).

Systems are not only easier on the pocketbook, but on the eye. The industry has become more architecturally savvy. Standard PV systems (solar panels) are most efficient and have become more building integrated. New choices offer materials like solar-powered shingles that blend almost seamlessly with traditional roofing materials and thin-film technology that is applied to existing surfaces like windows and metal roofing but at a cost of efficiency.

There are other options to consider.  First, make sure your home is capable of taking this new technology and working well with it.  Second, look into permits and building codes. Local laws and neighborhood regulations may prohibit you from getting solar panels on your home. As with any home improvement project ... do your homework.

Before you ask 'is solar power right for me' the question to raise is 'how energy efficient is my home'. A simple answer lies in having an energy audit. The audit will show you how your home uses or loses energy. An audit will give you a customized plan that shows you energy-saving choices that fit your lifestyle and budget. Most utility companies offer the service.  Or contract with a reputable Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified auditor. The $300 - 500 price tag is a valuable investment that will reap substantial savings in the long run.

Keep in mind you don't have to live 'off the grid' to make a difference. There are alternative uses for solar power on a smaller scale. From creative to common sense, they include water heaters, outdoor lighting, gate openers, electric fences, battery chargers, night lights,  alarm clocks, portable radios, and even small, portable solar chargers are available for laptops, cell phones and iPods (using these also helps reduce the number of batteries ending up in landfills). Additionally, you can power your water feature or fountain or heat your pool using solar energy.

GreenByDesign.com poses the question so why not solar?  'The biggest threat to the purchase of solar is people deciding that their best option is to wait.  Concern about new photovoltaic (PV) technologies replacing current technology is one of the top three reasons people don't buy now. We're using the same PV technology on homes we were using in the 70s, though it's about twice as efficient now as it was 40 years ago.  In consumer electronics we're so used to insanely rapid product lifecycles that we're tempted to wait a year or two. However, PV isn't the laptop you bought two years ago that's now obsolete. Solar systems will produce electricity for decades, and they'll continue to produce electricity regardless of what new technology happens to replace it.'

David Scroggins with Sundance Renewable Solutions reminds us that solar energy is only part of a comprehensive plan. Combining solar with other energy efficient improvements, like insulation, will provide the biggest return - economically and on the environment.

abbreviated from May/June 2009

Bryant and I were talking the other day about topics for the newsletter and he suggested that I write an article about keeping a positive approach to our lives in these days of negative talk. I've always thought that one of the surest ways to fail at anything is to have a negative mindset. Sort of the 'name it and claim it' line of thought. Remember the story 'The Little Engine that Could?' Although faced with a task that others thought was highly improbable if not impossible, the little engine kept saying 'I think I can, I think I can' and the first thing he knew he had done it. The book was intended to teach children the value of optimism, positive thinking and hard work, but its message should not be lost on adults. Although the big engines all had acceptable ways of failing only the little engine was willing to take the risk of failing in order to progress.

According to Confucius our greatest glory would not be in never falling but our greatest glory is in rising every time we fall.

We all fall prey to the fact that life isn't all roses and things don't always go our way. Sometimes we cause our own grief and of course sometimes we don't. How we react to either is what makes all the difference. If we are causing our own grief by doing the same thing over and over again we might ought to stop and think about the questions 'how's that working out for you?'

One modern philosopher (Will Rogers) said it this way, 'if you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.'  In the same way, perhaps if we all quit talking failure we wouldn't have so much of it. I realize that a natural reaction to hard times or the forecast of such makes us want to hide in a hole and quit spending any money. However, the more we think things are terrible and we hoard all we have the sooner the businesses that depend on our patronage will actually fail. I am not advocating we buy things we don't need or spend just to keep up with the Joneses or spend more that we can afford, but logic would tell you that doing these things, even in the best of times, is not good fiscal responsibility. What I am saying is let's keep living while we are alive and try to make the best of a bad situation.

Our grandparents (or maybe great-grandparents) went through the great depression. Here are a few of the good things they learned during that difficult time.

-       If you don't have the money to pay for it right now, don't buy it. For us today that would don't use credit, or if you do, pay it totally at the end of the month. Get out of debt if at all possible. Remember this old adage when shopping; a bargain is only a bargain if you need it.

-       Enjoy a simpler life. You don't have to have the latest electronic toy or gadget. (Learn to entertain yourself by having family time to read, play games, garden, etc.)

-       Do it yourself. If you don't know how to do something, get someone to teach you how or do it for you and you do something for them.

-       See frugality as a virtue. I didn't say cheap or stingy, just making the most of what you have.

-       Treat food with respect. Put another way, take what you want but eat what you take.

-       Reuse what you can.

-       Practice good domestic skills. Keep your home clean and organized. Give away what you don't need. It will make your home feel roomier and cleaner and someone may really need what you don't.

-       Be thankful. Make a list of your major blessings and most likely 'things' will not be on the list.

In his publication, Enough with Doom and Gloom, Ken Dychtwald suggests that during these times we give more of ourselves to volunteer work or mentoring. He says that you can help make the future a time of not only (just) living but leaving a legacy. Live with a purpose and do something that matters.

President Coolidge said 'when you don't know what to do, do the work in front of you.' Christopher Kimball (Cook's illustrated magazine) added to this in an editorial  'Just do the work in front of you and things will always work themselves out. (And if they don't at least your chores will be up to date.)'

We really can find the sunny side of life if we look for it. We can. I know we can. I know we can.