Renewable energy

I spent most of yesterday cutting down a tree limb on the big oak tree in front of Rancho de BCP. The limb made the tree look a little off balance. But, the real reason I decided to cut it down was it's removal would allow more early morning sun winter sun to come streaming in to the house. Once the I finish cutting the limb up it and it's branches will be used to fuel my Franklin wood stove to further provide heat in the house. A few more dollars in MY pocket and a few less sent to the gas company. And I've got a number of other trees that need trimming too.

2007: A big story you might have missed. I did.

I am not sure how I missed this story but, being a sailor to me it is big news! 2007 was an historic year because the first transatlantic passage by solar power was achieved. It seems to have been covered by most of the major news organizations (at least online) but, I guess Brittany Spears probably got more air time. Anyway you can read about this historic crossing here and here and there are some great clips on You Tube also. This is big news! The kind of big news that the big oil companies want you to forget about as soon as possible.

Saving energy? Not in the Senate.

An article in today's Washington Post points out that the Senate is about to fold on the new energy bill. Here are the money quotes:

"Democratic leaders in the Senate are planning a vote on a retooled energy bill late next week after they failed to muster enough support yesterday to prevent a filibuster of ambitious legislation passed by the House on Thursday. "

"A new version of the bill will probably scale back some elements of the House's tax package and jettison a requirement that electric utilities use renewable energy for 15 percent of their power generation, but a White House veto threat citing a broad range of objections continued to cast uncertainty over the ultimate fate of the proposed legislation. "

Hmmm Why would anybody in this country not want our utilities to use even a small amount of renewable energy?

"The failure to close debate was a victory for the major oil companies, Southeastern utilities and coal-mining firms that had opposed the legislation. "

Doh! Forget I even asked the question.

Greening our schools with green from our wallets?

I spend much as much of my time as I can during the summer on a sailboat in the waters around Long Island. I am very much involved and aware of the natural surroundings and live with a small footprint and green with my solar panels, no air conditioning etc...but I am still able to enjoy a cold beer. When I am forced back to land I continue to keep my lifestyle the same. The solar panels that were on the boat are taken down and used to drive fans that pump solar heated air around the house. Helping my personal energy policy know as SST (starving the Saudis and Texans) it is working pretty good and every year I improve on my efficiency.
While I do practice energy efficiency in my daily life as much as possible. I am a little suspect of the recent buzz about "greening our schools". I am suspect about organizations that have as an action plan "Form a committee". Pretty soon all kinds of organizations and businesses are piling on spending money for the sake of "going green". Saving energy in homes and schools often does not require alot of money especially taxpayers money which seems is easier to spend for those in school districts than their own. As I move back on land I will be posting on this blog some of the things I do around Rancho BCP to save energy and money. They are not expensive and do help to save money, energy and the planet and you don't need to join a committee to do them.

Time for new energy

As the summer winds down the Washington Post has an article about some companies exploring new clean energy technologies. I am reminded it is time for me to think about ramping up the BCP energy plan for winter. I'll be posting about it from time to time in the near future.

Save your energy President Bush

While George Bush was out visiting the latest example of our failing U.S. infrastructure with his dog and pony show. The House passed an energy bill that would among other things require utilities to get 15% of their energy from renewable sources like solar and wind. But our clueless President George Bush threatened a veto because the bill did not encourage increased drilling for oil. Ah, Mr President that is the point of using renewable energy in the first place.