I am in the process of designing and quoting a solar electrical system for a house I recently purchased. This is a ‘Split Level’ Home of approximately 1900 sq feet. The heating systems is electric baseboard. I researched several local companies that provide a soup to nuts service and installation.

Once you have selected a provider, the first step is usually a quick suitability review from the installer. With an address, they can pull up google maps and get a view of your house, determine the orientation and roof structure. From that initial review you get some immediate feedback about solar applicability on your house.

Impose higher federal and or state gasoline taxes now. Ok, I said it. Call it a ‘Green Fee’ if you want. Call it anything you want, but provide funds to continue the recent progress toward a greener economy.

The federal gas tax has been in place since 1932. Contrary to popular belief, all monies do not go to highways or infrastructure, in fact that didn’t even start until the 50′s, prior to that it was used to fund wars. Since 1980 the tax has increased dramatically from 4cents to 18cents per gallon. Yet, we still have a call from Obama and congress for Infrastructure spending for roads, bridges and the like. What have you been doing with the money Congress?

Don’t stop now. Don’t get comfortable again. Keep it Green.

Like a dieter who loses a few pounds after the first week, let’s not settle back into our old habits and think we will keep it off.istock_000007185445xsmall

Good progress has been made making the public aware of the need to reduce our dependency on oil by looking for alternative, sustainable alternatives. Politicians talk about it, CNN reports on it, Newspapers write about it. Now that oil prices are falling http://mygreensuit.com/2008/10/12/oil-prices-falling/ again let’s not get lazy. We need to keep the momentum going.

Oil prices have fallen to below $80 a barrel as of Friday October 10. The sell off has been in place for several weeks but was accelerated on Friday due to a widening economic crisis. I expect oil prices to continue to retreat, between $40 and $50 dollars by the end of the year would not surprise me. Why ?