Saving energy through energy audits is a first-line strategy, before you even start thinking about getting solar panels, solar heating or wind power connected to your home.

A typical home energy audit identifies around 30% of energy savings. That could be 30% off your power and heating bills for a start. And you can include savings on water use too.

Furthermore, various cities and states offer free energy audits to the householder – where the auditor gets paid by them. Of course there is a follow-up cost for you in acting on the energy auditor’s recommendations. But that’s way cheaper than going for the renewable technology options first.

Even so, various places have free energy efficient light bulb replacement schemes. Caulking your windows and taping gaps under your doors is not going to break the bank. And there’s help out there… Energy efficient mortgage loans and tax deductions for energy efficient homes and businesses are available. So are energy efficiency personal tax credits and many states and localities offer subsidies and other support with weather stripping and caulking.

You’d be mad not to take advantage of these schemes while they are here.

It’s no wonder that energy audit training is filling a growing gap in qualified people entering this career or as an energy-saving business.

Energy audits are not necessarily complex. Got your R20 roof insulation? Energy efficient windows? Blocked all drafts? But there is more. Do you know which appliances take most power? Time to replace those guzzlers with energy star rated ones? Which times you run your washing machine or dishwasher at the cheapest rates?
By all means, after you took care of all that look into renewable energy too and save money and greenhouse emissions.

Well, I don’t want to say “I told you so…” but…

After pulling the residential solar PV rebate scheme two weeks early because of an enthusiastic uptake of the scheme (isn’t that what we want?), the federal government has done it again.

This time it’s the $200,000 grant for solar stand-alone power supplies in rural remote communities. Again, the government says money has run out for this scheme. You greedy people have actually taken the government seriously by taking to this scheme like ducks to water (well, there’s another subject…) and now you cannot have it any more.

Bang goes the lid on the cookie jar.

What’s happening?

Like I suggested before: governments think people must go renewable energy, whether or not it gives out rebates. So it feels it won’t need to do this anymore at a time it has no money left. It has just spent its billions on economic stimulus that encourages the very behaviour that got us into this mess.

So, what to do? Don’t rely on government rebates and solar energy grants anymore.

Live sustainably.

Save up to buy that PV solar panel and get that solar hot water panel with a government rebate right now.

Save energy where you can.

Leave the car in the driveway or share it with others.

Grow some vegetables in your backyard.

Be creative.

I always knew it. Mercury’s orbit is deformed and might cause a collapse of the solar system.

Here am I, a Gemini, trying to pull the whole thing together here on earth. Arguing for seeing our planet and all life on it as a whole, deserving action towards a sustainable life.

Renewable energy, wind generators, green jobs, energy saving devices and ways of living…

Sustainable Life? In a collapsing solar system?

OK, OK, calm down… So, what’s this all about then?

Well, some French researchers have just published in Nature their theory of a 1% chance of collapse of the entire solar system.

The culprit? No, not us humans this time.

Not Mercury either but Jupiter (God of war) who is pulling vulnerable little Mercury out of its orbit, already “20% deformed.”

“Deformed?” Hmmmphhh… Just “challenged”, or “differently abled” perhaps. A bit more sensitive, please… These Nature-people!

Anyway, Mercury could also cross paths with Venus, or with the Sun.

Oh dear…

No more solar energy. No worries either about whether your solar energy grant scheme is going to be taken away from you by the government hand that giveth. Or whether your wind power generator will work.

But, a 1% chance nevertheless. It’s odds many people frequently punt on in buying lottery tickets. And as they say there’s always a winner.

Let’s think. Cool head. We DO know for sure that the oceans are rapidly expanding, glaciers are melting.

We also know that we are heating up the Earth’s atmosphere by our important actions of consuming computers, software, dvd’s, cd’s, nylons, cars, fast food, useless toys, meat we don’t need, gadgets and more gadgets… In one half of our lives running around in mad circles buying it, in the other half producing it.

It’s enough to make you want to get off? But where? Another solar system?

But, it seems the chances of us landing in a global mess because of our own actions are much much greater than Mercury’s vulnerability to the big thugs out there in space. And that’s a Gemini telling you.

So, do relax, go back to what you were doing in your own life about saving the planet and let Mercury, Venus and Jupiter do their own thing.

Your own alternate energy sources are within you. Your personal power system.

Here’s to you!

Planets Could Collide

The Australian government has just terminated its AUS$8000.00 rebate scheme for domestic installation of PV solar panels. Two weeks early of its planned cessation.

What does that mean?

While economic stimulus in the US and, in part in Australia, is built on growing the renewable industries, this is the first sign that governments are now judging this movement needs no help. Plus people have been taking up this opportunity to a much greater extent than government budgeted for.

It is a must, so people will do it anyway, so government reasons. And it has already given out so much money in economic stimulus that it has no more to spend.

I have predicted this would happen sooner or later but I did not think it would be this soon. It’s not a mere two week cut, sooner than planned. This is a signal tthat will be repeated as the importance of The Economy resumes its undeserved first place over the Environment and Social domains.

Yes, the Australian government will still offer a solar credits system, but it’s not the same as a cash rebate, is it?

So, while governments still offer solar energy grants and rebate, take the opportunity now. Research what is available to in your country and take action.

Australian Renewable Energy Grants

Solar Energy grants – A Living Database

Australian Energy Incentives Government Source

Renewable Energy Grants