solar power

I've noticed that a lifestyle is beginning to emerge around the idea of solar energy and sustainability. I've seen this in both my community and internationally.

While the permaculture movement has aspects of this view, they're too agrarian for the techno enthusiasts who are embracing solar. I've defined this emerging movement as the "Solar Lifestyle".

It appears to have 7 components:

Part of this movement has been imprinted by the notion of radical self-reliance that's emerged from Burning Man. Where 40,000+ people survive in difficult conditions -- without money, without facilities, without a grid, without a grand plan... and without leaving a trace! Burning Man proves that people can come up with their own bottom-up solutions to energy, water, food...all that a person needs.

Now take that notion of personal responsiblity and plug it into our everyday communities. And put the smartest techno-geeks incentive to create highly-efficient buildings, cars, tools and appliances and suddenly that's something you can build an entire economy around.

There's lots more to ponder in this. I welcome your comments

While cruising the trade floor at SOLAR 2008, I kept my eye out for simple turnkey solar systems. Let's be honest, buying a solar electric setup can be a daunting technical challenge for the average homeowner, so any company that tries to simplify the process gets points from me.

Solar in a Box caught my eye.

Ready Solar announced their Solar in a Box system on April 9, 2008 and premiered it at the expo. The idea is pretty simple: Ready Solar assembles many of the components in the factory, so the traditional on-site (and expensive) work is reduced. The company claims the average installation job can be completed in roughly half the time.