Going green and saving money.

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First I would like to start by asking people to post their ideas to save money, but still go green on this thread. I would like to hear from people who have actually done something toward this goal and have seen it succeed. Nothing like completing a project and watching it succeed day by day.

Second I would like to share my first idea. Taking the risk of sounding like a spammer once again... I have something new to show you guys. While going through my house and trying to find ways to save some $$ I came across solar panels... Now I looked up the installation costs and all the stuff and it came up to way over my budget.. Its basically like a very long term investment. Then I tried to figure out how hard it would be to actually make a solar panel and to my understanding doing it by yourself would be very very hard. There is where this website comes in. You can actually build your own solar panel with a small investment and treat it like your next great project. Trust me if I was able to build it (took me a couple of tries) you will too. So for all those interested check it out.. AND as ALWAYS share your ways of saving money around your house.. Creativity is very welcome here .


Here is the website... there is a video you can watch it will explain everything.

Earth4Energy.com - make solar panel and make wind turbine

We shopped around for panels controllers inverters and got the best deals on sale ahead of time in 1997, self installed in 1998, not hard. Paid for itself within 6 years and the savings paid off the mortgage, low with sweat equity, in 10 years. All inspected and approved, something that the self made panels can't do. They have to be UL listed and approved. However, for existing houses after inspections you could sneak on the self made cheaper panels. They usually use UV resistant plexiglas which still has high reflectivity and can break in a hailstorm. Better for tracking systems with manual control to tip steep in hail, like the tempered smooth glass panels. A textured rough and unbreakable surface would take away the need for expensive mounting. just simple aluminum "L"s and various bolts, mounted at the average sun angle. There is a new system for reflecting more light on to the panels, too.
As far as that site with make it yourself panel books and DVDs, the price can be knocked down from $98 to $37 with $8 shipping, if you are resistive. The site captures your email and spams you. I thought about making some, but I just don't need any more. There's also instructional stuff for building your own wind generators if you have a lot of wind.
One thing not told was that the inverters put out EMI and RFI which messes with phone lines, computers and guitar amps. Thick aluminum foil needs to go between the inverters and the house, and placed well away from phone lines and computers. For guitar amps you also need the more expensive pure sine wave inverters. Inverters must also be well protected against any moisture, vented, and enclosed against bugs. The AC ground rod and the DC ground rod should be over 6' apart and have a 6 AWG wire between the two to prevent actually attracting lightning by differential potential buildup. Besides the fuzes in the controller, a lightning absorber should be put in for insurance against a close strike frying your system. Design the system for minimum wire use and distance, for less line loss and saving money. The Pocket Reference is essential to have, along with the proper tools. Always oversize your system, for less battery discharge and longer life and because we always buy more toys.

i don't think you sound like a spammer. i think you are a spammer. so now why don't you tell people that most people can't use these home made solar panels to power their homes because they don't meet the proper codes and that to make enough panel to power there house and then pay an electrician to install them will end up costing just as much IF they could use them. So now that the truth is out why don't you stop spamming!!!

Originally Posted by james wilson

i don't think you sound like a spammer. i think you are a spammer. so now why don't you tell people that most people can't use these home made solar panels to power their homes because they don't meet the proper codes and that to make enough panel to power there house and then pay an electrician to install them will end up costing just as much IF they could use them. So now that the truth is out why don't you stop spamming!!!

You should address who you are talking to, because some may think you are responding to the last post, which is mine, and I am an anti-spammer. Earth4 Energy is a spam site. There are few areas where you don't need an electrical inspection. Most places will allow a home owner to do all of the trades. We had to pay an engineer for approval of the foundations plans we drew up. Some places require more, and many contractors will allow do it yourself with their just inspecting it before the city or county inspects. Some places do require licensed people doing some of the work. Those are the places where you will not save as much, but if that is where you want or have to live.......
As far as spammers on this site, you can report them and they get removed. I've reported several.

I have found out that the most effective way to reduce cost of living is to use second hand stuff. If it is in a reusable state then it is worth having it. There are some sites in the Internet where you can connect with people who are willing to give used things away for free. I found this one while I was searching for some place to get free stuff and it really works! This will also help going green as the amount of stuff thrown to the dump is reduced.

The reGives Network - The Groovy Way To Change The World

I don't know if using second hand stuff can be the biggest savings. For us, it helps, but solar power and sweat equity with housing brought down those costs to nothing after 8 years. Sure, we save by using the local clothes bank, and giving our clothes to Goodwill, we lost. The best thing is to keep things and repair them, like patch socks and pants, until they can't even be given away. If they will burn in the wood stove, they end up there instead of a land fill. If they can be used for compost, they end up in the bin. More savings are realized with buying on sale, and more by growing our own.
The groovy way to change the world would be if everyone quit using fossil fuels and went to one or none with kids until the Earth absorbs the pollution and regenerates the depleted resources it can, like soil and aquifers. However, some of the pollution is very long term, like the huge plastic islands in the oceans, and some of the depletion can not be replenished.
Overpopulation, Resources & Famine | Brave New World

The above link is an important read on the situation. I wonder why the "green forum" has ads for Russian dating and Netflix at the top. It certainly must be a turnoff for environmentally interested visitors!!