It really is a fantastic show. Ed is obsessed with saving the planet and Rachelle, his wife, puts up with him. Their banter is hilarious, and I feel like I'm really learning some great earth-saving tips while laughing at their hilarity.
The latest episode I watched had Monica Horan, from Everybody Loves Raymond, and all of the green goodness she has added to her own house. And it gave me some great ideas for my own little shanty...
Solar Roof Tile: I'm a big stickler for things being asthetically pleasing, so when I saw that Monica Horan used Solar Roof Tiles instead of just plain ole ugly solar panels, I was very excited!
[from premierpower.com] The secret behind the sleek, streamlined design are interlocking solar tiles fit to the exact shape of your roof. This exclusive interlocking technique blends with the style and architecture of your home.Besides these things being much, much, much better looking, they seem to cover all sides of your roof. That way they don't have to move to find the sun like some traditional solar panels.
- The solar panel is a deep blue color that blends well with the brown and gray tiles of roofing.
- The solar panels are light; they weigh about 2.5 lbs per sqft.
- They are seamlessly constructed.
- These solar panels are very low maintenance and very durable.
Solar Panel Patio Cover: Now you can turn that patio out in your backyard into a solar panel AND block the sun when you're barbecuing. Now, granted, it's not as pretty as the "hidden" roof panels, but it's pretty multi-functional.
[from premierpower.com] Using the same panels we install on our solar roof mounted systems, Premier Power is able to create functional structure for your garden enjoyment. A solar design has many benefits:You can even use this for small sheds/buildings throughout your land! Genius!
- Offers shade for your garden patio.
- Produces up to 200-300 kwh of clean, green, and FREE electricity.
- Requires a small 250-450 square feet for installation.
- Looks great to everyone, even the Homeowner Associations!
Now if I had my way, the entire roof and front porch would be covered in the Solar Roof Tiles and my back patio would be topped off with the Panel Patio Cover System.
I know that they are expensive, and that's what's always stopped me from ever even thinking of using them for my real houses...well, that and the fact that I'm still renting. But at some point you just have to suck it up and bite the bullet. They last about 30 years, so they'll eventually pay for themselves.
It's really time to stop thinking about my wallet and start thinking about saving our planet.
3 comments:
Since you want to build your home, a way to harness the power of the sun without costing anything extra is to have lots of south-facing windows. There's nothing so cheery as the sun slanting in on cold winter days.
I ordered Living with Ed from Netflix. Looking forward to seeing what he has to say!
P.S. Looking at your house plan, it would be perfect for passive solar if the back of the house faced south. All that sun could come into the sunroom, and the warmth could filter into the kitchen, dining room, and master BR.
Living with ED sounds like a brochure the fine people at Viagra might send you.
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