(International) Art & Architectural Tours & Seminars
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If you have taken any of my “Green Building” related courses, you may remember that I talk about energy and how it impacts our lives (pollution, wars, environmental damages, etc.) I also talk about the solutions that already exist. With these solutions our country could become a leader in sustainability.
After many years of talking about it we finally decided to take the plunge and do something about it:
My wife Vicki (author of several vegetarian cookbooks) and I have taken the plunge.
WE MAKE ELECTRICITY OUT OF THE SUN.
In fact the offices of
Art & Architectural Tours and Seminars
RUN SOLELY on SOLAR POWER.
We also added a SOLAR WATER HEATER that takes care of 2 water heaters (One for the kitchen and laundry room and the other for the bathrooms).
We are slowly moving toward a self sustaining house in the middle of the town with a garden that provides a lot of our fruits and vegetables without the help of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. We also drive a Prius, and for short trips around town, a Vespa. Nothing is perfect but it is a beginning. Our house still uses a little bit of juice at night or when we use every appliance and the A/C. The A/C will be the next thing on the agenda.
It needs to be replaced with something that doesn’t pollute as much (making electricity waste 25 gallons of water for every KWH used!!! ), is efficient and last longer. Geothermal seems to be the best. For every BTU spent, it makes 500 BTUs of energy.
For the first month our FPL bill is only $ 15 dollars. It is a matter of choice. Solar panels may seem expensive but so are wars and pollution. Anyway, we could either pay the power company or pay for the panels. The monthly payments end up being about the same, so we chose the panels.
The US government will give a tax break on your tax return in 2009 which will be 30% of the price of a solar system. Plus the State of Florida will give you back $ 4 per watts installed. Up to $ 20,000 off your house system or up to $ 100,000 if it is a business.
You will end up with a system that is the price of a nice car.
So if you need info about solar energy, systems and equipments or want to know about the best installer in Florida, call me or send me an email.
Jean
TOURS & SEMINARS.
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Jean Renoux’s Art & Architectural Tours & Seminars - 1 800 240 1194
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Solar water heater
5.4 KWH of photovoltaic panels
The inverter (transforms the 24 volts from the panels into 220 volts electricity for the house.
This manages the connection to the Internet so I can monitor our energy consumption, and you too.
I hope I can inspire some of you into going solar too.
The offices of Art & Architectural Tours and Seminars
during business hours run ON SOLAR POWER.
CHECK OUR NEW DATES FOR COURSES
(20 HSW & ADVANCED BUILDING CODE COURSE) IN
Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Bonita Springs, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens
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