The next wave of green real estate demand … energy self-sufficiency.

Richard,

   I just read an article that my High School in Boston is installing solar panels on the roof's of ALL the buildings this summer. They will generate 200 kilowatts of energy at a time. This will be 40% of the energy requirement for the school and will be the biggest project in the Metro-Boston area. If something like this will work as far north as Boston you would wonder why more people from coast to coast wouldn't explore solar/wind energy as a viable alternative to relying on "the grid".

I've heard of a few local farmers using the roof of their barns for solar. It produces enough energy for the farm and the home.

The wind, water and sun...therein lies our future. It is nice that some have come to realize that a little passive energy gathering can mean less pollution and dependency on others. Nice pictures, as usual.

Good morning Richard,

I've had a seller in Austin who is moving to 200 acres that her family is purchasing where all 4 kids are building their homes as well as the parents. They are going to be self sufficient and ready to live off the land and have their own power in 5 years!

Good Morning Richard,

Thanks for another thoughtful post. Have an awesome day.

There was an article in the paper today that tells of a commercial sized airliner that takes off and lands on jet fuel but flies on solar. The technology is getting us to a place where we'll be energy self sufficient. As old people do, they remember way back when. I remember reading in My Little Reader in 3rd grade (1953) that the known oil reserves would be used up by 1975. If we'd only figured out then that alternative energy should be studied over oil exploration, perhaps we'd have a better more sustainable world today.

I believe that as things continue along the path that we are on, those who are planning now will be glad that they did as far as being self sufficient.

Featured @ Club Chaos

I hope we are moving toward becoming a more self-sufficient nation, period.

Richard...Solar has been the big one for me.  Running water with a drop?  Sounds like a permit night mare!

I've seen a lot of solar projects going here in Idaho, and like you said, the up-front cost is much lower than it used to be.  The added Federal and State tax incentives aren't too shabby either!  

I agree that this is a step in the right direction toward being a more self-sufficient nation as Susan said!  

Would love to be able to reduce my electric bill.  My home, from the appearances of my last month's electric bill, seems to be made of swiss cheese.

Richard,

It is interesting how "Green" is coming in full circle...looking forward to the past, as it were. Some of the green attributes of a neighborhood describe neighborhoods of the 30's and 40's...big porches, sense of community/neighborhood, large sidewalks, shade trees... Great Post as always

Oh I hope!  I would love to see the alternative energy programs take off...from the bottom up, so to speak...let the people change the government and the business.

Richard in our area solar panels are still the preferred choice, especially as we tend to have more densely populated areas. Being green conscience is never a bad thing

What's old is new again... these are time tested ideas that a lot of folks have been practicing for generations.  It's good to get back to some common sense.

I hope the trend towards green and renewable energy continues.  I'd like to stop paying all the wrong people for oil.

There are two homes near my parents house that have small windmills that generate energy.  I found out the cost is about 25K to set up.  But with the state and Federal tax credits it came to about 5K if I remember correctly. 

Louisiana has probably the best tax credit in the country for this type of energy.  They also can sell the excess electricity to the utility company.

Richard, I wish you worked in my store.  You are so on target.  I can't believe this one hasn't already been featured but I suggested it.  We all need to remember that there is such a thing as comraderie and working together and win/win.

Great blog.

Just saw this post in a reblog.  This is absolutely going to be huge in our business.  I would love to get the latest Green designation and be ahead of the curve.  I know very little about the latest and greatest in energy efficiency.