Tonight on WUSF - Florida Matters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Florence Search, a 5th Grade teacher at Perkins Elementary in St Petersburg, was selected by renowned Film Producer and Storyteller, Larry Elliston, as a featured story for the WUSF TV PBS broadcast of the new Florida Matters Television series airing Friday February 13th at 8pm and Sunday February 15th at 9:30am. There will also be an appearance by Dr. Charlie Crist, of St Petersburg, the father of Florida’s Governor. The subject of this week’s program is Sustainability and Environmental Consciousness.

The story is all about the teacher, Florence Search’s commitment to environmental responsibility and how it can really reduce your utility bills. “Flo is such a perfect Florida story,” Larry says, after filming her teaching her class about the virtues of solar and the sustainable lifestyle. Her students were so excited about her lesson, that one of the best sounds bites comes from a student who says, “I always wanted to know someone who lives in a solar powered house only to find out it was my teacher.”

After filming in the classroom, Larry takes his cameras to the teacher’s St Petersburg home where she also teaches her neighbors and fellow Floridians how you can convert a poorly performing financial investment into a much better investment in Florida sunlight which has reduced her $300 per month utility bill to almost nothing. Florence had Solar Direct, of Bradenton install solar which produces electric, makes her hot water, and even powers her swimming pool pump. “She really practices what she teaches, and I was really impressed by her,” states Larry Elliston.

Dr. Charlie Crist, the Governor’s father and a recent solar pool heating system owner of Solar Direct, also makes an appearance and speaks about his son’s support and future of solar in Florida.

1 comment.

It’s official, Florida Public Service Commission has Approved Net Metering

Florida Public Service Commission Approves Net Metering and Interconnection Rule

Tuesday March 4th 2008 Florida’s Public Service commission (PSC) has voted and approved net metering and expedited interconnection standards.

The rule was made to promote grid-tie and interconnected customers (Wind and Solar Electric power production) and reduce costs for those customers by allowing them to realize a faster payback and a better return on their investment into renewable energy technologies.

It further promotes renewable energy by expanding eligible systems from 10KW to a full 2MW and expanded the systems to include not only solar electric (Photo voltaic) but all renewable technologies.

“This rule is expected to increase the development of renewable generation in Florida, which will enhance fuel diversity and reliability,” said PSC Chairman Matthew M. Carter II. “Customer-owned renewable generation also effectively acts as a conservation measure by reducing the amount of electricity purchased from utilities.”

News Release: here.

8 comments.

Alternative Energy Explained For Home Owners

One problem for home owners today is the increasing price of the utility bill. This bill is feared every month, although we know it is coming and there is no way to get out of it. One of the utilities we most fear is electricity. Electricity is very important in our lives and will be in the future. It plays a very important role in our modern lives and we can’t live any more without it. Without electricity we are not save, we can’t produce the products we need and can’t use all the appliances we love so much. Most people feel that the price of electricity is too high for the amount they consume. Complaining will not be answer to lower the price. There are other alternatives to lower your monthly bill for electricity. One option is to make use of alternative energy. Let’s review the most used types of this ‘new’ energy source.

Although people think alternative energy is ‘new’ it really is not. We have used this energy source long before we even knew electricity. Just think about drying your washed clothes outside in the sun. In fact many of us still use this method to dry clothes and there is nothing wrong with this. Drying your clothes this way will save a lot of electricity!

Here we will list other types of alternative energy.

The first is wind energy. Today windmills are used in homes to run small generators. Using windmills is not a new concept. Windmills have been used in the past century before. They were primarily used to mill grain. Making flour from grain was hard work and using the power of the wind was an economical way to complete this task. Another use of the windmill was to pump out water from large beaks or lakes to gain land. One country which used this techniques was frequently used was the Netherlands. Acres of land were won this way and today home owners still benefit from this land.

Today the windmill has a renewed function and that is run small generators for home owners. These generators produce electricity to be used in running small home appliances. These windmills are commonly used outside the city area. It would be hard for home owner in the city to make use of technique because they are a few meters in diameter and a placed fairly high.

The second form is solar energy. This energy source can be used in several ways. Most home owners use it to produce electricity. The solar power can be used to power small appliances. Other home owners used it to heat there home. This can be done passive and active. The passive form works like placing your car in the sun. The temperature in the car increases fast making the inside of the car very hot. For homes it can be done by making use of glass and positing your home to the sun. Your home can be heated up very quick. By using certain types of stone walls inside your home this warmth can be held inside the house. The active method uses solar energy to produce hot water for central heating. The hot water can also be used for running hot water, the washing machine and dishwasher. The efficiency by which we are now able to convert solar power into electricity and hot water is of such a degree that it is very possible to power a whole house and use for central heating! Solar energy is much easier to use in the city area and so many people in cities can lower their energy by making use of the energy source. The roof solar-panels that are needed can be placed on the roof out of sight. Some people think this is ugly view, but that is an individual taste.

The third is hydropower. By making use of the power of running water small turbines can run generators. These generators in turn can store electricity which can be used for running the home appliances. This technique is also used in the past where waterwheels were used to grind grain into flour, just like windmills. But like the windmills this form of alternative energy is not feasible to use in the city area.

The fourth technique is biogas. Biogas is produced naturally via the decomposition of different biological material. This can be from animals and from humans. Farmers can successfully use this method to produce biogas. The biogas can be used for heating to home or can even be used to cook. This form is also not common to use inside the city area.

There are more ways to make use of alternative energy than mentioned here. The forms mentioned here are very common today and are evolving. In the early days of solar energy the efficiency was poor but today it has improved dramatically. If you live inside the city area your options are limited to solar energy. The advantage with this energy source is that is very versatile. You can produce electricity and hot water.

When you decide to use alternative energy you accomplish more than only saving money you’re also helping to create a better world. The big reason not to use alternative energy is the price tag. The devices to convert the ‘free’ energy source are not cheap. You need to realize that you’re investing in your home. But after good calculations you will realize that you’ll be saving more than you’ll spend. Don’t forget to apply for tax credits or other benefits for investing in alternative energy.

Source: article circle dot com

no comments yet.