I was surprised when the National Park Service announced that it had installed PV and Solar water heaters on the roof of the White House. Why was I surprised? A little something called history.
President Carter installed the first solar panel on the White House while he was in office. It was more of a symbolic gesture as it wasn’t nearly enough to contribute to the actual energy uses at 1600 Pennsylvania Drive. It was also a symbolic gesture when President Reagan promply removed the panel and killed funding for solar research when he took office. It surprised me to hear that President Bush would install such a symbol of “personal virtue.”
Well, it surprised Richard Perez of Home Power Magazine as well, and he did some research to find out about the equipment. Its still offers a trifling fraction of 1% of the daily energy consumption of the White House. But here’s the real gem: The PV and Solar Heating system was initated by the Clinton Administration, and has simply took this long to muddle through bureaucracy. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. At least the sun is starting to shine in Portland again.
I’ve been researching solar power as an option for my new house. It has a flat roof, so I envision a rooftop garden/solar panel area. It’s amazing that even in Portland’s grey climate that I can literally roll back the power meter. I want to do it because it’s the right thing to do, but it’s kind of a large expense up front. It will be a commitment — of sorts — to the house and long lives there and the environment.
My parents have a solar panel that powers an attic fan. Simple but helpful way to cool the house during the summer.
I’d love to roll back the meter just to stick it to Enron. They can’t own me! Well, maybe for a couple more years. At least we’re doing the Green Mountain Renewable thing for now.