Carole Estrup Gallery & Bookstore

Much is in the news these days about solar power. Aside from its national security advantages, there is a lot in it for business, for you, the individual and your family. And it isn’t as difficult as it seems. In fact, it can be a lot of fun.

So, I’ve been asked to make some comments about star power, popularly called solar or photo-voltaic electric power. Specifically, people want to know how to get started, set priorities and, most importantly, pay for the independence solar power provides.

One of the wonderful aspects of such an adventure is the choices one is forced to make and  choices are always a matter of individual situation. Solar power is, unlike corporate/utility offerings, flexible.

When we first moved here, power lines were 2 miles away. We used kerosene lamps for light but knew that had to be a temporary thing. You, already hooked up to the ‘grid’ , won’t have to go back to the days before the REA. You’ll still have the luxury of everything you have now.

I would recommend a family sit down and discuss its needs. In a very hot climate, for instance, a cool room might be a life-saver during over-loading, peak-demand or general power failure. A 12 volt direct current (DC) cooler and a single photo-voltaic (PV) panel would protect the very young, elderly or ill. We use Southwest Solar’s (Arizona) smaller evaperative cooler to cool our whole house (1000 sqft) and 80 watts of PV power from a readily available panel. Cost for such a primitive rig is about $2K with a  deep cycle battery to run the cooler after sunset. Various incentives reduce this cost.

A very simple system like this is an emergency backup, but can also start saving on utility bills right away, familiarize the family with solar power on a small scale and inspire children with cursory ‘chores’, such as checking batteries regularly for corrosion and fluid levels. My wife, Carole, and I began our venture slowly, like this 30 years ago. The next most important household appliance is probably the refrigerator. Even a short outage can spoil critical food supply. Sunfrost, Sundanzer and NovaKool (Canada) are manufacturers of economical products which  outperform  most “energy star” competitors hands down. And they are made in the USA.  

Stabler of Ohio makes washing machines which use 50% less power and 1/3 the water of brand names. This product has special value to businesses operating laundromats, uniform cleaning and hotel services.

As retro-fitters,  you can start small and gradually begin using solar energy to run  most urgent or expensive appliances, then add on as you can afford it. Soon you’ll be using your TV, computer, micro-wave oven … even, as they become available, your hybrid-electric car! One day, before you know it, you’ll be selling solar power back to the utility.

The most important step is to START! Carole and I estimate savings over the intervening years at about $100k. This includes the cost of  appliances, batteries, PV panels and accessories, but not the $30,000+ the utility company wanted just to run power to our home … that for the “privilege” of paying them 50-250 dollars a month for the rest of my life.

“What,” you may ask, “does any of this have to do with art?” This is, after all, an art blog.

Well, I’m glad you asked. My wife paints daily in her star powered studio. She wrote her memoir by solar powered light and computer. She grows fresh vegetables in her greenhouse. I write and maintain  our website using the same free source. We stay cool on the hottest desert days. Self-reliance, once an admired ideal, is becoming a lost art. More and more people are losing control of their lives. Your electric bill is a monthly financial commitment, like a credit card you can never pay off. It is these ‘nickel and dime’ necessities which keep most of us broke and dependent upon nameless authorities.

But we all have the talent, with a bit of learning and encouragement, to take back that control … at least a day-to-day part of it . Independent living is a skill, an art in itself.