Our Journal
Head in the proverbial sand
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men & women to do nothing.
For Your Information
Things to Think About
What is a (any) government capable of?
It’s been proven throughout time that a government will do anything to stay in power and control over it’s own countrymen. As Americans we are experiencing this first hand. Over 70 years ago another example of this was prior to the entrance of the United States into WWII, the President began an oil embargo on Japan because of it’s aggressions on it’s neighbors. At the time Japan’s only energy resource was hydro power and even that would dry up in the summer months. So they were largely dependent on oil to run their country and power their war machine. Because of the embargo this was just one more reason why Japan entered into war and shortly there after bombed Pearl Harbor. The rest they say is history. So just how important is/are natural resources? What kind of value and/or importance does this put upon solar power. The sun is there for you to capture, free of charge and war (blood).
What’s your Carbon Footprint and how to reduce it?
This is a great informational website put on by Consumer Reports www.greenerchoices.org Once on the site select Resources, then Calculators. You’ll spend hours on the site.
Beware of “Build your own solar panels”
No doubt that by now you’ve seen or heard an ad that talks about building your own solar module, wind turbine or my favorite, “Breaking News: 47-year-old pattriot discovers Weird trick to beat Obama’s Electricity monopoly for good”. In a moment of boredom I watched the video on line and as most pieces like this they gave very little information up front until you buy. Basically it came down to building your own solar panels out of individual cells. The average panel is comprised of 60 to 96 cells and puts out 200 to 300 watts. Now keep in mind that a normal 4,000 watt system puts out approximately 5,000 Kwh annually and consists of about 16 panels. The panels that we sell are encapsulated and incorporate tempered glass. Yes you could make a panel but I doubt it would stand up to the elements.
Something else to think about, if you do this you will not be eligible for any state or federal tax credits nor NYSERDA incentives. In New York you system has to be installed by an eligible installer. The other item is you will not be allowed to connect non-UL approved equipment aka homemade PV panels to the utility grid. Now if your plan is to be Off-grid then go for it. I just don’t want anyone getting ripped off.
Al Gore and Inconvenient Truth
Did you know that 2 years before the Al Gore movie “Inconvenient Truth” came out he started a company called Generation Investment Management. This is a company that allows citizens to buy carbon credits to off set their carbon footprint. Amazingly enough, Mr. Gore uses 20 times the electricity of an average American. So he buys carbon credits from Generation Investment Management. How cool is that, he pays himself. I’d have to say that is very (in)convenient. Hmmm?
What to do if a Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) breaks
Open the windows and leave the room for at least 15 minutes
For hard floors, don’t vacuum or sweep. Instead wear disposable gloves and use cardboard or stiff paper to scoop up the mess. Then clean the area with a damp paper towel.
For rugs, use sticky tape to pick up any pieces. Then vacuum the area if necessary. After vacuuming the area, remove the bag and place in plastic bag.
Any debris should be placed in a plastic bag. If there are no other disposal or recycling options, check with your waste pick up service, place in the trash bin and wash your hands thoroughly.
Gas Prices
I don’t have to tell you that we are paying the highest prices that we as Americans can remember. I’m unsure if this is any consolation but listed below are countries that are paying much more for an equivalent amount and grade per gallon: (as of March 2014)
Belgium $8.33
France $7.76
Germany $8.40
Italy $9.16
Netherlands $9.24
United Kingdom $8.14
Politics, a bad word?
Over the years I’ve really tried to sit quietly on the sidelines and in some ways, like the majority of Americans “bury my head in the sand”. I can’t do it any longer. Feel free to leave this page and we’ll stay on topic of RE. Past this point you agree to enter at your own risk. 🙂
Guns, guns and the Second Amendment. Please don’t get me started…
A LITTLE GUN HISTORY
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
MORE GUN HISTORY
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
Why Fight?
During WWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!
With guns, we are ‘citizens;’ without them, we are ‘subjects’.
You won’t see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information.
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.
The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.
SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN! SWITZERLAND’S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE EACH A RIFLE. SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!
IT’S A NO BRAINER! DON’T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.
Take note my fellow Americans, before it’s too late! The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.
High Gas Prices
HEMP – FUEL FOR THE FUTURE
The following is an article that appeared in the Solar Energy International (SEI) Journal volume 44, winter 2005-2006 issue. I wanted as many of my clients as possible to read this. After all, one of my main reasons for building the Design and Training Center was, and still is, to educate people. With fuel prices high and expected to continue to climb, the article below informs us of the fact that we do have alternatives, and gives us a win-win situation. For the dying breed of family farmers, the American consumer, and most of all a way to free us of our dependency on foreign oil.
Hemp is one of the oldest plants on the planet, growing for over 10,000 years. The oldest piece of fabric found is made of hemp and is over 8,000 years old. Fabric is only one of the many uses of this incredible plant. There is a misconception among the public that hemp is the same as marijuana. Hemp contains less than 1% THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. No, you can’t get high or a buzz from smoking hemp.
Beginning in the 1600’s, farmers were required to grow hemp and both Presidents Washington and Jefferson grew hemp. Hemp was used to make clothes, ropes and sails. In 1937, Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act which made it so difficult for farmers to grow hemp that the industry slowly eroded. There are over 25,000 uses for hemp from paper to plastics to fuel.
Clothing made from hemp fabric can last for generations and also has antimicrobial properties when the fabric contains more than 55% hemp. Hemp can also be made into plastics. Henry Ford dreamed of a car that grew from the earth and in 1937, he created a plastic car composed of a 70% hemp composite plastic. This car could endure an impact ten times stronger than steel without bending! Today, aside from specialized products, all our plastics come from fossil fuels.
Hemp is the largest biomass producer on the planet. In four months, it can produce 10 tons of plant material. By using pyrolysis (charcoaling) or biochemical composting, biomass can be converted into methanol and used as a fuel source. Not only can we use the biomass to make methanol, but hemp oil can be used to make biodiesel.
“It would only take 6% of our U.S. land to produce enough hemp for hemp fuel, to make us energy independent from the rest of the world,” reports the organization It’s Inevitable, Hemp based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Fuel, upon combustion, creates CO2 and H2O which is released into the atmosphere, balancing the carbon cycle. Using hemp as a renewable fuel source can decrease our dependence on foreign oil and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. We can also employ U.S. farmers to produce hemp, a crop that requires no weeding, nor fertilizer or pesticides.
The United States is the only industrialized nation where it is illegal to grow industrial hemp. With so many beneficial uses, how can we justify the fact that it is illegal?
In June, 2005, Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced the 2005 Industrial hemp Farming Bill (HR3037). This bill would make the distinction between hemp and marijuana and would give the regulation of industrial hemp to the states. Over 26 states have introduced hemp legislation, fourteen have passed legislation, and six have passed laws for the production and research of industrial hemp, including Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota, Hawaii, Maine, and West Virginia. Currently, the bill has nine cosponsors and in order for it to become a priority for the legislature committees, it needs more cosponsors. Visit www.votehemp.org for more information.
If you want to try some hemp clothing, consider purchasing an SEI t-shirt. Our shirts are made up of 55% hemp and 45% cotton, taking advantage of hemp’s antimicrobial properties.
Resources:
It’s Inevitable, Hemp: www.artistictreasure.com/learnmorecleanair.html
Hemp Car Transamerica: www.hempcar.org
Hemp Industries Association: www.thehia.org
Solar Energy International (SEI): www.solarenergy.org
LiteFoot ATV Tracks
I have come to the conclusion that most of us work entirely to hard and don’t take time to get out and “play”. I have been a recreational vehicle enthusiast for well over 30 years. However when winter would come around I couldn’t use my four-wheeler because of the heavy snows and deep drifts that we get on top of the mountain. After years of research I came upon a company called Mattracks that manufactures track systems for full-size truck’s and SUV’s. They also make a product called LiteFoot which are tracks for 4-wheel-drive ATV’s.
Over the years I have looked at other systems but from a mechanical point of view the gang at LiteFoot have really got a winner here. For up to date detailed information on this product please go to their web site. http://www.mattracks.com/tracks/litefoot/
After getting my first set and putting them to the test I liked the tracks so well that I am now the Western and Central New York dealer for them. I invite people to stop by the shop and take a test drive. Below is a 2003 Honda Rincon 650. Please call for an appointment.
The tracks are currently mounted on a 2004 Arctic Cat 650 you see below. The photos below do have a story that go along with them. Below is one of my clients up in the Tug Hill Plateau of the Adirondack of New York State. This client is Off-Grid and 1.5 miles from the main road which is dirt and the power lines. The only way to service this client in the winter months is either by snowmobile or my tracked 4-wheeler.
Knowing just how much snow they can get in this area I built a 4 foot platform for the backup generator to sit. As you can see below I should of made it 6 or 8 foot instead. Needless to say, the generator had to be replaced two weeks after getting a record 24 hour snowfall that dumped over 7 foot of the white stuff. We ended up making a wooden sled to place the 850 pound generator on so that it could be skidded in. After several attempts to break trail off of the main road via snowmobile (they all got stuck) we realized that the only thing that was going to break trail to camp but also skid the new generator in was the tracked wheeler you see below. These LiteFoot tracks provide unsurpassed floatation. The generator installer was so impressed he offered to buy the wheeler from me on site. So as you can see, not only is it fun, but for my line of business it is a necessity.
Newspaper Article
Sun, Wind Power South Bristol Firm
By ALLISON COOPER/Messenger Post Staff
BRISTOL CENTER— High atop South Hill Road on a 100-acre expanse, two windmills and a dozen solar panels generate more energy than Chris Schaefer’s state-of-the-art business can use.
Schaefer, the owner of Solar and Wind FX Inc., says his business shows that the nation can reduce its dependence on foreign oil and live cleaner and safer on renewable energy. The entire building, including a saw mill, is powered with solar and wind power.
“This is my resume,” said Schaefer, gesturing toward his windmills, panels, the building he has built himself and his man-made pond. He plans to build a home on the property, to be powered with renewable energy as well. The wind-and solar-generated electricity is in the form of direct current (DC). The direct current is then stored in twelve large deep cycle batteries. The battery power is then channeled to a pair of inverters that converts the DC to alternating current (AC).
Schaefer said in the three months his facility has been running, he had used only 104 kilowatts while the average homeowner can use between 700 and 1,200 kilowatts of electricity in the same amount of time.
Schaefer said he wants to teach people about the benefits of energy conservation and solar and wind design and power. An electrical engineer, Schaefer will conduct seminars, perform site surveys for customers and engineer, install and service the systems he sells. He plans to begin classes at his South Hill Road training facility in spring 2003.
Schaefer has offered his services to the town of South Bristol’s Planning Board which is writing regulations for wind turbine farms in response to a Buffalo-based developer’s interest in some 1,200 acres near Schaefer’s home on South Hill Road. The company, Ecogen, has informally proposed building a 15-to 20-turbine wind farm.
South Bristol adopted an eight-month moratorium in July on the development while officials consider regulations including height, setback and ice-throw distances; who would pay to remove abandoned turbines; and banning the use of advertising on the windmills, which may reach as high as 380 feet to the tip of the rotors.
Some residents told the Town Board last spring they were concerned the turbines would ruin the view. But Schaefer contends the wind turbine farm makes sense.
“My picture window (would) have a nice view of the windmills,” said Schaefer of the Ecogen project. “Do I want to look at them — not really, but I know it’s a good thing.”
The industry is unique but growing rapidly, according to Warren Leon, executive director of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association based in Greenfield, Mass. “This is the direction in which society as a whole needs to go,” said Leon. “What Chris does combines solar and wind training and selling; he’s multi-faceted. It’s a very good opportunity for people to tap into a broader perspective.”
The NESEA is sponsoring a National Solar Home Tour which Schaefer and local homeowners are participating in tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The tour will offer examples of energy conservation measures, such as using clotheslines instead of dryers, as well as energy-producing solar and wind devices, such as those Schaefer uses at his training facility.
“It’s all about education,” Schaefer said from his property, which he believes allows him to be self-sufficient in an uncertain global and economic climate. “And I’m living it.”
