Green Energy Times staff
At Green Energy Times, we love what we do. We love getting the word out on saving the planet from climate change and pollution. We love helping people be energy–independent. We love the healthy lifestyle and clean environment an unpolluted world can offer.
Russ Lanoie’s passive solar (1976) house with Daystar solar hot water system installed in1978, solar greenhouse, sunporch that gets glazed for winter, and, most importantly, the solar clothes dryer. (Courtesy images)
One thing we have always loved, but never focused on much in the past, is walking the talk – actually doing the things we advise others to do. We can take pride in the accomplishments we have in our own lives, whether they be big things like switching to an electric vehicle, or little things like turning the thermostat down and wearing warmer clothes.
We all try to reduce emissions and waste wherever possible. We do it ourselves because we know that if all the people in our country did that, we would all lead richer, more satisfying, healthier lives. But to get to that place, most of us have to participate actively. Those of us who know about it have to undertake to lead, telling those who are not aware about the need to improve our lifestyles. And to lead, we have to do all the little things that eventually will add up to something monumentally big, when we are all engaged.
In this issue, we will take a look at the responses we got from three of our volunteer distributors when we asked about their lives.
Russ Lanoie – NH Volunteer Distributor in the Conway and Mt. Washington area
We live in 1976 passive solar house with mini-splits and wood backup. We have a Daystar (Exxon) solar hot water system. An 11.5 kW PV system provides all of our electricity, including for our 2021 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid. It is reaching 1000 miles, still with over half a tank of gas left from when we bought it.
G.E.T. comments: Russ Lanoie has reduced his emissions and pollution from heat, hot water, electricity, and transportation. Having got to a pretty good point, he has gone further. He is getting the word out to family, friends, and even strangers by distributing G.E.T.
Cliff Babkirk’s Kia Niro filled with G.E.T. bundles for distribution. (Courtesy image)
Cliff Babkirk – G.E.T. volunteer distributor for Maine
We just put 9.5 gallons of gas in our new Kia plug-in hybrid that carried us 1625 miles along with plug-in power from our PV system that is still letting us bank a couple of hundred kilowatt hours per billing period.
That’s 171 miles per gallon.
G.E.T. comments: Cliff Babkirk delivers G.E.T. using a plug-in Kia Niro, pictured on this page. Some people adopt green options in life because it is good for the planet, others go to green options because they save money and make life easier. Though Cliff Babkirk may be one of the former, he provides an example to the latter of how electric vehicles and solar power systems can work together to save their owners quite a lot of money.
JS Fitzpatrick – G.E.T. volunteer distributor in the area of Littleton, NH
I’m fairly energy–conscious, very by some measures. A number of years ago I installed solar on my house, changed out my oil burner for pellets and purchased a plug-in hybrid vehicle. All those moves have saved me money and made me feel better. I’m also part of a group that has convinced others nearby to make similar energy saving moves. However, these types of behavioral changes on a personal level by me and many others hasn’t been near enough to stem the tide. Big institutional changes prompted by government direct funding and incentives are necessary, but unlikely to happen soon.
It’s good that individuals are stepping up, saving money and doing what they can, but it is nowhere near enough.
G.E.T. comments: JS Fitzpatrick tells a familiar story of how our volunteers provide examples of how people who set out to be environmentally responsible can save financially and live healthier happier lives.
He makes another observation, however. It is necessary that our government stop encouraging emissions from fossil fuels and take up the point of view that the environment is important and needs protection. It happens that renewable energy use in off-grid and microgrid situations is scalable. The entire nation could benefit from the energy security, low costs, high reliability, and clean environment that is provided by resilient renewable energy.
In our next issue, we will bring our readers more about how those who work to G.E.T. the word to you, and who work to sustain and heal the planet for a safe and comfortable future.
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