Many people still see solar power as an expensive alternative to something as cheap as electricity. What most home owners don’t know is that not only has the price of solar panels dropped drastically over the last few years, but they have also gotten much smaller and more efficient as well.

The last time I did some research (and it was a while back), solar panels ran up to five digits. Since we were a young family and looking at solar to SAVE money, we did not thing this was the wise path to take.

An even better incentive than the price is the transformation in the panels. I recently went to a beautifully landscaped house that had two HUGE white poles sticking up in the middle of the yard. “Those are for the solar panels when we can afford to get some.” Now they are even making solar panels that are built right into the roof tiles, solar panels that are flexible (and aren’t going to break) and solar panels that are inflatable (although these are more for usage in the woods than in the home).

The best comparison that I can think of is satellite dishes. Just 15 years ago, the dishes were the size of a compact car and cost about the same. Today you get a dish free with your service and most people won’t even notice if you have one on your house. As the solar technology continues to improve and the prices continue to come down it is likely that more homes will turn to solar power.

Solar power can be a great alternative for any business, but those in Oregon can really benefit. If you have an existing business and you switch over to solar energy, you can set the solar system up for almost no costs (after you receive rebates and tax benefits).

Setting up solar power is not cheap. It could initially cost a business around $150,000 to set up a small and simple system. For business with some capital to invest back into the company, this could be a great choice. There are plenty of incentives offered in the Oregon area that help bring the final cost down to almost zero.

Unfortunately, not all states are so generous. The federal government is also decreasing tax incentives that it offers to citizens to go green. It is always a good idea to check out your local incentives and to talk with your accountant BEFORE you count on any rebates or deductions.

Even if you aren’t able to receive rebates or other incentives, going solar can be incentive enough of its own. You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year if you go green. Some of the electric companies even offer payment for any power you generate that comes back into the general system so that you could potentially make money.

Switching your business is not just good for the environment - it’s great for the bottom line as well.

Filter Your Water

The benefits of filtering water have been touted for many years. Recent discoveries and improved technologies are making it easier and also proving that there are even more reasons to be concerned by what is coming out of your tap.

Researchers recently discovered that many city water supplies actually have traces of prescription drugs in them. This is most likely caused by people flushing old medications down the toilet. While the idea is good (it keeps the medication from getting into other people’s hands) it has had unexpected consequences.

People now have to worry about the medications AND the chemicals that may be clouding their water supply. Having a simple filtration system will limit your exposure to the different negative elements.

New technologies have also benefited consumers. There are now portable filtration systems (built into water bottles) that make it possible to have filtered water where ever you are AND to limit your contributions to the waste products piling up in dumps around the world.

There are now more reasons than ever to filter your water – in your home and on the go. Filtering your water can be simple and fairly inexpensive to insure that your water is the safest it can be, cut your costs by no longer having to purchase bottled water and helping to save the environment.

Alternative energy is becoming more popular with the mainstream consumer. Even the resent presidential debates have been bringing to light the importance of changing the way we supply energy in this country. Fueled by the increased interest (pun intended), many companies are expanding their research into commercially viable products.

One of the directions companies, like SkyFuel, are aiming is the development of solar powered plants. Projects like these will make clean fuel a reality for more people in close quarters. Traditionally, the rural population has been more likely to grasp the technology around alternative energies.

The Department of Energy is helping to spur on innovation through its grants for research and development. The government seems eager to find ways to reduce American dependence on foreign energy sources and at the same time quiet the clamoring of green organizations that feel America is responsible for the depletion of the ecosystem.

As the interest in alternative fuels continues to find a home in the mainstream consumer, the options will also expand. The building of green power plants is surely to bring the industry to the forefront of the minds that don’t already have it there. With the government willing to back companies financially, the technology is sure to keep up with demand.

There are very few government officials out there calling for people to destroy the environment.  Some of them are even quite vocal that we need to work to save it in any way possible.  But the government - as an entity - does not need to push any green tech

on the populous.

The only way for the technology to take off is for the industry to push its development.  The only way the industry will push the development is when a need arises.  Right now, there isn’t much need for cheaper fuel.  Even with gas prices running over $3 per gallon, people just kept fueling up the cars.  The initial scare did cause a flood of used SUV’s to hit the market, but the automobile industry responded in kind with more fuel efficient SUV’s.

There has been some talk lately that the government should support financial the green industry.  It was even a subject in a recent republican presidential debate.  Subsidizing anything is a bad idea.  It causes innovation to stagnate.  Necessity is the mother of invention, not government support.  Hopefully, the green technologies will find their own footing and take off.  Until that happens, the government shouldn’t get involved.

Gardening is a great way to eat green without spending a fortune.  It doesn’t have to take up an entire field or all your free time to be successful.  Like many things, a good garden is one that works smart not hard. 

1.      Be a square.  Square-foot gardening gives you more bang for your buck, allows you to work your garden with less time, and rotates your crops without having to plan in advance. 

2.      Grow what you eat.  I know gardeners who grow onions because it is “time” and they end of giving away or trashing all of them.  Don’t waste your time on crops you won’t use.  Plant what you need and what you want and you will enjoy your garden much more.

3.      Extend your seasons.  By using some garden cloth and some plastic you can extend your growing seasons to almost a year round garden (depending on your region). 

4.      Add a few herbs and perennials.  Not only do they increase the attractiveness of your garden to people, but to beneficial insects as well.  Another great benefit is that many of the perennial flowers can be used for cooking – they add zing and color to your meal.

Planting your own, smaller garden, gives you control over what is grown and how it is grown.  You don’t have to wonder about just how organic the products may be.  You know exactly where the seeds came from and how they were grown.  Gardens don’t have to take up a lot of space or a lot of time, but they will save you a lot of money in the end.

Milk is costing my family almost twice what gas costs us.  With growing boys, it takes almost as many gallons to get us through the week.   I heard that one of the reasons is because the corn to feed the cows is being used instead for ethanol production.  But the new “green” fuel could be doing more harm than just that to my pocketbook.

Ethanol seems like a great solution to fuel needs.  After all, it can be grown in what ever amounts needed.  But many people forget that it takes fossil fuels to generate the ethanol.  This means that while the product itself is a carbon neutral fuel, its production is not.

There is also concern that existing forests will be cut in order to grow the corn needed for the production of ethanol.  It is the destruction of these forests that is the leading cause of green house gases.  The cost of moving to a regenerative fuel is just too much if this is the path we are going to go down.

Scientists have not quit searching for better fuels.  We shouldn’t be focused on something with all the potential problems that ethanol has when the real answer could be right under our noses.

My husband has been fascinated with the concept of a self-sustaining home since we went to an open house about eight or nine years.  With Y2K looming ahead, everyone was looking for a way to survive if the worst happened.  It didn’t, but my husband was hooked.  The biggest sticking point we have is the extreme costs of using alternative powers.

The green industry has been working long and hard to find ways to bring down the costs and to improve the products at the same time.  There are now solar panels available that won’t cost more than the house you can attach them too.  Mini solar powered accessories are showing up everywhere - even in discounts stores and bulk shopping sites.

Our second sticking point for going solar is that we live under some HUGE trees.  It isn’t the shade, as much as the occasional falling limbs, which have me concerned.  Before I spend a chunk of savings on buying and installing solar panels, I want them to be nearly indestructible.

There is still wind and water.  Every few months, my husband starts plotting about how we could harness the power of the running water from the streams and creeks around our property.  A good breeze will get him off on his windmill tangent. 

I like the idea of having an alternative power source, even if it is just an emergency back up.  Until it becomes more readily available (and more designed for a modest checkbook), I’m afraid my Don Quixote will have to wait.

The green in the military is more than just the uniforms.  The organization whose main goal is to seek and destroy is using eco-friendly technology to power its ability to do the dirty work.  The idea of an environmentally friendly army seems to be the ultimate oxymoron.

It actually makes sense that the military would use solar power, bio fuels, and hybrid vehicles.  Most of the time, there aren’t outlets that the military can just plug into.  It has to have a way to make its own power because being in the middle of no where is not conducive to “plugging in.”

The Army has been especially dedicated at developing tents that will power themselves.  Covered with thin amorphous silicon technology, these tents are like tiny power stations.  It these tents prove to be as tough as they are unique then they could give the Army a distinct advantage.

It is important that the military look at self-sustaining ways to deploy.  The last times that they have been in the field required the building of cities before forces could be moved in.  How much easier it would be if the forces had all the necessities neatly built in to their regulation equipment.

It seems that every time I turn around there is a warning about one food or another.  For while I thought I was safe staying with fresh foods, but now even those are showing up as contaminated.  I’ve decided that the only way I can make sure the food my family eats is safe is to grow it myself.

Growing organic food in small amounts (just enough for my own family) is not as difficult as people might think.  It involves some planning, some manual labor, and lots of attention. 

The first things you find out when you are determined to avoid poisons is that not all bugs are bad.  Even ants can have their place in a garden (native ants actually help aerate the soil).  Many beneficial insects (like the lady bug or the praying mantis) actually prey on the bad bugs.  Unfortunately, commercial insecticides can’t tell the good from the bad – one more reason to stay natural.

The next thing to know is that the very best fertilizer is a tea – compost tea that is.  This magic substance is made by “brewing” a liquid fertilizer from organic compost.  There are systems that you can purchase, or you can make your own.  The tea is then sprayed on the vegetables (or flowers) and has the added bonus of forming a film on the plants that will reduce the bad insects.

The most important thing about growing your own food is that it will be the best you have ever tasted.  Not only will it be the product of your own hand, but it will be picked at the very peak of freshness.  Who knows, the adventure of digging, planting, growing, and picking the vegetables and fruits may actually get your children excited about eating things that are good for them.

My husband and I have always wanted to be self sustaining and just a bit green in our home.  Not because we are afraid of the government or because we are hiding from society, but mostly because we thought it would save us money in the long run. 

The other day, I saw a story on one of the home improvement channels (just can’t remember which one right now) and it ran again today so my husband had a chance to see it.  They showed “earthship” homes and I immediately fell in love with the concept.  My husband was more focused on the possible costs involved, but that’s the pessimist in him coming though.

Living green doesn’t have to mean giving up modern conveniences.  These homes had microwaves, refrigerators, and running water.  The great thing about them is that they are self sustaining.  Y2K wouldn’t have even caused these homeowners to break a sweat.  Inside the homes, they can grow food.  Outside the home, the house itself gathers water and energy for the daily tasks inside.

My only hold up is the look.  If they can figure out a way to get the self sustaining elements into an 1800’s Victorian then I will be the first to sign up.  Fortunately for me (and others who aren’t too keen on living in a house that will definitely draw stares) there are alternatives available. 

Living green doesn’t have to be obvious or ugly anymore.  Green architecture is developing a flare for style AND conservation.  My day may not be as far away as it once seemed.

Our family took a tour of an organic dairy.  They had some chicks there that were the same age as those that are processed in the chicken plants all around us.  These “normal” chicks were about the size of a softball - not exactly ready for the dinner plate.  Taking this tour really got me thinking about going organic with my family’s menu.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as you would think.  We don’t live in a large city and my father-in-law will treat anything growing around the property (I’ve tried to reason with him, but he’s old school).  Because of the recent drought, even the local farmer’s market is bare.

So I thought I’d buy “organic” at the local grocery store.  I did some research online, and thought I was prepared.  I was wrong.  There are so many labels that say as little as possible or nothing at all that it was a nightmare.  I ended up getting a couple of apples and some chicken breasts, but I know these weren’t “natural chickens.”  I’m not even completely sure what natural is.

Now, I flip flop back and forth between the value of organic compared to the importance of variety.  If the industry would make the labels easier and more uniform AND would make the costs a bit less then I might reconsider my organic lifestyle.

There are things in the environment that can kill you.  The smart thing to do would be to outlaw as much of the dangerous items as possible.  Some people are already pushing us in that direction - trying to outlaw smoking, guns, fast foods, and fat altogether. 

Now the local science fair is getting in on the act.  A high school student won the top prize with his petition to outlaw dihydrogen monoxide.  It can be some of the most dangerous stuff if used incorrectly, and it even contributes to erosion causing billions of dollars in damage each year.  I guess it should be outlawed.

There is just one problem.  The chemical his petition refers to is water.   And although water can be dangerous when used improperly, I hardly think that outlawing its use could help anyone and in the end it would probably kill even more people – especially given that we are 80% water.

It makes me wonder how much of the concern that is placed on all the “bad” things in this world is just hype created by the media, special interest groups, Hollywood, and politicians.  Maybe instead of outlawing everything, we should find ways to use the resources we have in a responsible manner that is beneficial for all involved.

McDonald’s in not exactly known for the healthy choices it offers its customers or the eco-friendly impact it has on the environment.  Best known for the golden arches and the Big Mac and grease, McDonald’s is working hard to change its image.

The company is beginning to make its waste cooking oil into biodiesel fuel for powering up its trucking fleet in Europe.  It will take almost an entire year to get the whole fleet converted.

I admire the corporate world for looking to creative ways to help the environment, but I can’t help but wonder if there is more in it for them.  I have a friend that owns a car run on waste cooking oil.  It smells a lot like what’s been cooking.  Now imagine an entire fleet of trucks driving around the region smelling like fries.  It could be almost as bad as the sound of the ice cream truck.

Still, the conversion of the McDonald’s fleet (according to their own figures) will save almost 2,000 tons of carbon.  Since it will also help the company by cutting the cost of shipping (because of the reducing in fuel purchases), I can only dream that it will also reduce the cost of my next run through the drive through.

Small, gas mileage savvy vehicles are great for the environment.  They are also easy on the wallet - costing less in initial price and in long term gas expense.  Now the automotive industry is poised to push the compact to a whole new level.

Renault-Nissan is planning for the future of the automotive industry by designing a compact car for under $3000.   The truly amazing thing is that they won’t be the first.  Tata Motors, an Indian carmaker, plans to launch its own $2500 car as early as next year.

Our family owns a compact car.  On the city roads, it’s not so bad.  You may have to get out of the car at the drive thru window, because the car sits so low to the ground, but it feels safe enough.  You may have to get out and push it up super steep hills, but it’ll get you there (eventually).

Interstate driving is a whole different experience.  Staring at the wheels of an 18-wheeler and realizing you probably COULD fit right under it (and the trucker would never even know it) just isn’t all that comforting -especially at speeds around 70 mph.  I still get chills from my last long distance trip in that tiny car.

There is probably a place and a need for a car so compact that it can be sold for less than a go-cart, but I can promise you it won’t be in my garage.  I’m not so green that I’m ready to become fertilizer for the cause.

You could get arrested if you try to build a windmill on your property.

It seems that every one wants to go green, but nobody wants the alternative energy sources in their own back yard.  There have been several attempts to develop wind mill fields that would be able to supply whole communities with power.  The mere idea of the unsightly monstrosities covering the landscape outweighs the environmental impact potential, and a fire storm of protests quickly destroys the hope of development.

It may be hip to be green, but it’s not so cool if it starts to affect your property values.  The rich and famous in and around Cape Cod were quick to bring up the dangers of wind turbines when a development threatened their own ocean views.

Now the government wants to get involved and make it illegal to produce clean, green electricity from wind turbines.  The legislation is being touted as an “animal protection” bill because migratory birds can be killed by the wind turbines (Never mind the oil spills, pollutions, or global warming).

Personally, I don’t see what the fuss is all about.  Some countries have made an entire tourist industry off of windmills.  Maybe the engineers need to spend a little time making something that is not only energy efficient, but attractive as well.

Going green has its appeal, but there are some things that I refuse to give up.  There has been a time when my family has gone without running water or an electric oven or air conditioning.  It was never all at the same time, and it was never for more than a couple of weeks.  It was also something I would never CHOOSE to do.

Over the last few months I’ve been reading about “carbon offsetting” that is suppose to mitigate my greenhouse gas emissions.  Al Gore is the best example of this new fad.  He has been praised and condemned for choosing to have his luxurious estate in Tennessee, but to pay for carbon offsetting to justify his own indulgences. 

Carbon offsetting companies charge “environment conscious” individuals a fee to allow them to go on with their lifestyle without having to worry about the effect that lifestyle is having.  These companies are best known for the tree planting they do on behalf of their clients.  My only question is, “Are you kidding me?”  If someone is serious about cutting the effect they have on the environment, does it really count to pay someone else to plant a few trees?

I’m teaching my kids to be good stewards over the land.  We live in the woods and we protect and maintain the trees that we have.  We turn off the lights when we don’t need them, and we turn the air conditioning up when we aren’t home.  If we ever feel that we are causing too much carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases in the world, then we will just eat fewer beans and plant a couple of trees ourselves.

Welcome to Green Road - this is just the start post, but hopefully I’ll have more up very soon indeed.