For Episode 6, we hit sunny Monterey Bay to speak with Graham Hunting of Blue Line Power, a clean energy company. We’ve split the episode up into three parts:

Part One:
Graham talks about how you can pay for a commercial or residential solar energy system. We visit the York School to see how real people have gotten off the grid and reduced their carbon footprint. We discuss rebates, tax credits, and green loans that are available to consumers. In the process, we find out how long a system lasts and how long it takes to get a return on investment.

Part Two:
Next, we learn what different types of solar panel systems are available and how efficient they are, including new innovations, like “spray-on” solar panels.

Part Three:
In the last segment, we visit a house that pays $0 in electricity bills. We see the components that make up a solar energy installation, including the inverter, the meter, and the solar panel modules. Finally, Graham touches on maintenance, cost, and why 2008 is the best year to get a residential solar system.

Stark contrast in deforestation along the
Dominican/Haitian Border (NASA)

In the 1980’s, free trade and environmental degradation virtually eliminated Haiti’s internal rice production. Haitians eventually became dependent on rice imports. Now, Haitians are starving due to rising food prices. There are reports of people making themselves sick, just so they can be admitted to the hospital and get food. There are many reasons for rising food prices including diversion of crops to biofuels and rising commodity and oil prices. Agricultural and oil interests lobbied for blended biofuel solutions such as ethanol, instead of promoting smart solutions such as electric vehicles or reusing waste vegetable oil.

To be sure, Haiti’s neighbor, the Dominican Republic, is also effected by the global food shortage, but they have a huge advantage with their local food production. Dominicans produce 80% of the foods consumed locally, which insulates them somewhat from the global shortages. It would be interesting to hear the presidential candidates address some of these issues in the next debate. Much has been made during the campaigns about special interests and globalization, but this an actual example of how bad policy has created a disaster and the next president must provide leadership on issues like these.

To help the Haitian citizens check out http://www.foodforthepoor.org/donate/haiti. Just $12 will feed one family for a month.

Further Reading

In this episode, the Green Rapper cuts through the hype surrounding BioDiesel with Laura and Hakan, two ordinary citizens that have truly converted to a carbon neutral form of transportation. With a nominal startup fee (<$250 for storage tank and fuel pump) and zero mechanical modifications to their VW Golf TDI and Chevy Diesel Van, they use BioDiesel from KF3 BioDiesel Production to fuel their rides (at a slightly cheaper cost than regular diesel)! Find out how they safely store their alternate fuel and fill up from the comfort of their garage. To get started on your conversion, visit the National Biodiesel Board’s Website.