Solar Energy: What is the Problem and What is the Solution

When it comes to our energy needs, there are three main problems. We have confused needs and desires, cheap energy and not educated ourselves enough on understanding energy. Let me explain. Need is a word that gets used out of context all the time, it falls into the category of words like have to, should, got to and must. When we hear those words, we feel as if our choice is taken away and we are presented with something we HAVE TO DO or else. The reason I bring this up is, what is it we need in our homes that require energy? People say all the time to me, but I need a Dryer; I need Air-con… I need, need, need. When in reality they are just desires. Things we would like to have to make our days easier so we can get more done in a day. So that we can go to work to pay for our electricity bills! In reality, more people on earth live without electricity than with, so we don’t need it at all to survive. Have a think about how much excess electrical load you have in your home just because it saves you time or helps you do something faster.

The next part of the problem is cheap energy. Cheap energy is what has made us go out and buy a lot of electrical devices that save us time. That way we can go to work and make more money as it’s cheaper to have the electricity work for us at home while we go work. This has helped a lot of desires become needs. Cheap energy has helped bad building designs to get built because we don’t need to insulate or think about solar aspect anymore. We just put the air-con on, and that will heat and cool the house at the touch of a button! Cheap fossil fuels have had an enormous part in making renewable energy seem expensive. Fossil fuels receive a huge chunk of currency from governments to keep the energy coming so that we don’t get upset when there is no energy at the power points. If they charged us the true cost of what it takes to get energy to our power points, I guarantee that would instantly help reduce the need for energy in our homes. The math is simple, multiply your energy bill by x10, and that’s how much of a discount the government is paying for you every month right now to subsidise fossil fuels. And that is worldwide.

The last point is a lack of education. I personally spent many years attempting to do what I have done. After years of researching and talking to government agencies, I found out that I don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. It is legal and safe to install a semi standalone energy system. Only 10% of the energy that goes into the grid makes it to your power points. This is because of losses, and this is the reason the government subsidy energy; there is a 90% loss in the transmission lines.

The solution to all of this is simple. Reduce your load and install a local power station. The solution to our energy needs is no different to fixing our food problems; go local and learn how to do it yourself rather than leaving it in the hands of others. If everyone installed a Hybrid semi standalone system, it would change the whole energy game. Most Renewable energy systems are either off the grid or Grid-connected feedback systems, which gives you limited choices and/or significant sacrifices. The solution is semi standalone systems. They are renewable energy systems that use the grid as a backup when required. The great thing about semi standalone systems is that you can buy a small system and add to it. You will always have power and as your systems grows your dependence on the grid is reduced. For less than $1000 you can build a semi standalone system and start weaning yourself off fossil fuels today!

Our Perma-Tech Course will teach you where to start and how to get going. My personal journey took ten years to get to a point where we didn’t need the grid anymore (except for when we buy an electric car maybe but that’s a whole other predicament).

So what are we going to cover off on? Well, you will learn:

– How to reduce your energy
– How to load plan your energy purchase for the future.
– How to design and build a solar aspect home.
– How to start to design and build your Renewable energy system.

Once you have completed this course, you will understand energy like you have never known before. It will be the biggest ah ha moment you have ever had. You will have hands-on experience building what we call our “solar potty trainer” which is a miniature version of our semi standalone systems. You will also have lifetime access to our knowledge base of online forums and access to our entire dealer pricing for buying solar equipment in the future.

If you think you’re up for it, then let’s get started. Sign up to our weekend course here on permaculturenews.org and we will meet you soon!

Read more of Mikes articles:

Is “GOING SOLAR” The Best Thing For The Future When It Comes To Your Energy Supply.

Is Going Solar the Best Thing for the Future of the Planet When it comes to your Energy Supply? !