"Bob Weinberger" wrote


.. But something
I always wonder about when I hear about this type of action - Have you
actually reduced your life cycle fossil fuel usage by installing such
things as solar panels on a travel trailer..

I always TRY to factor in this type thing and no doubt sometimes fail to do
so accurately.

As for this particular solar application, my guess, based on past summers,
is that it will take about 2 1/2 summer's to pay ( out of pocket cost ) for
the panels in gas saved at the generator. I "think" it's safe to assume
MUCH longer life from the panels than that based on my research and product
reviews I've read ( there were 17 posted on the site where I got the panels
with one being a 4 star and all the others 5 star ratings.) In terms of
the environmental costs of producing the panels vs the environmental
advantages ... I don't honestly know, but there isn't much to them, some
Vinyl, some glass, and whatever the actual photon grabber stuff is ( not to
get too techy G) .... seem to be made much like modern vinyl home windows,
well sealed, simple, tough.

When you consider that I've had moose wander within 50 yards of my trailer,
the non-tangible benefits of not running the generator might occasionally be
like the silly credit card commercial .... priceless G

PS I wish "real environmental cost" figures were more available .... if I
was a young man, in college and looking for a future, I might give hard
thought about ways to provide such information while paying my bills doing
so. It is a need that will grow as more people begin to understand that
Momma Earth has limits on how much abuse she is going to take, and "fuel"
becomes ever more costly in money and lives.