DIY Alternative Energy – Are You Green Enough?
Author: John Richards

Alternative energy, solar panels, wind turbines – what do
they mean to you? For some these are just aspects of the
modern world that other people are involved in but that
don't really affect them. For others alternative technology
lies at the very heart of the way they want to lead their
lives – drawing as little form the earth's resources as
possible. It's a spectrum that encompasses all of us.

The spectrum runs all the way from not green to dark green.
Let's work through them:

1. You're not green at all: For you, the green movement and
the ideas around alternative energy don't really do
anything for you. It's not really for you. You put all your
clothes in the dryer iresepective of the weather outside
and you use your big thumping SUV at every opportunity.
You're happy to buy a takeaway burger and drop a whole pile
of trash into the trashcan without thinking about what
happens to it. You want to save money though, especially on
utility bills.

2. You're a light green: You've thought about buying your
electricity from a green utility but haven't made the
switch yet. If the weather is dry then you dry your clothes
outdoors. You put all your paper, card, metal and plastic
in the recycling bin. But you still drive your car all over
the place and hop on a plane without a thought. If you
could save money on electricity you'd definitely go for it.

3. You're a mid-green: You'd like to have solar panels and
wind turbines, but you're worried about the cost of
commercially available products. You recycle your packaging
but still enjoy a burger with all its associated trash.
You've sold your gas-guzzler and bought a small town car to
save on gas.

4. You're dark green: You're strongly committed to the
green movement. You holiday at home, you get rid of your
dryer years ago, you use a wood burning stove and grow your
own vegetables. You recycle your waste water for the
garden. You'd love to have solar panels and windmills and
sell energy back to the utility, but they're just too
expensive. You sold your car and bought a bike.

What's is the common thread that links them all? They all
want to save money. Well, whether you are not green at all
or light or dark green, there is some good news waiting for
you. It's possible to save a huge amount on your annual
utility bills by fitting a collection of solar panels
around your house. I don't care what shade of green you
are, you can save money, you can have the satisfaction of
building something worthwhile, you can reduce your carbon
footprint and maybe even make a few dollars too, into the
bargain. A DIY solar panel is the simplest way to save
money on your utility bills. So whether you're a non-green
or a dark green it makes sense to take a close look at DIY
solar panels and windmills.


About the Author:

Discover how to construct your own solar panel and get free
design instructions for a solar water heater at
http://www.diyalternativeenergy.org