One energy-saving answer comes up every morning

The sun sends enough energy to earth to satisfy in 40 minutes the world's energy needs for an entire year if we could capture it, according to building and electrical contractor Bill Poteat of Morganton. His company Bresco, Ltd., constructs renewable energy systems for homes and businesses.
Some may think spending $56,000 for supplemental water heating and offsetting a third to a half of their electricity needs is far too much. Of this particular system, Poteat said, "We installed 22 solar panels near Lake Gaston for the 3,000-square-foot log home of Bob and Jean Wilson, a couple in their 70s. Mrs. Wilson told me having solar power was her 30-year dream." Poteat added, "These people are never going to receive a payback on this. Mrs. Wilson said, 'I'm doing it for my grandchildren.' She wanted to do her part to reduce dependence on foreign energy and reduce emissions from coal plants."
Little or no maintenance, plus a federal tax credit for 30 percent of the cost of solar panels helps ease the cost sting. For example, if a family spent $20,000 adding solar panels, their total tax bill would be reduced by $6,000. While a cap exists for federal tax credits on solar water heating systems ($2,000) no cap hinders credit for the cost of photovoltaic systems, another name for solar panels built to translate sunlight into electricity. A state tax credit is also available.
Poteat said determining how many solar panels are needed for a home depends on lifestyle uses of electricity, the amount of hot water, and heating and air conditioning, not square footage. He said a person might be able to fully displace electricity costs with a lesser investment. Poteat and his crew installed a $16,000, eight-panel system for a Morganton family — Francisco Risso and Molly Hemstreet — who sells all electricity generated to NC Green Power. They may eventually earn a profit because they receive a higher price for each kilowatt hour they sell than for the kilowatt hours they need to buy from the City of Morganton. How did Marion native Bill Poteat become an early advocate of renewable energy? He entered the Navy after high school in the late 60s and served on the nuclear submarine USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN 630). He said, "I became an electrician courtesy of the US Navy." He said, "Nuclear energy is better than coal, but it's still a finite resource."
Fascinated by renewable energy after reading The Handbook of Homemade Power from MotherEarth News in the 1970s, he visited a microhydro system referenced in the book in Gerton near Chimney Rock. It was too far out in the country for power lines. Manual Woodworkers carved laurel wood into "tourist trap" items such as miniature liquor stills. Poteat said, "Using a 17-horsepower metal water wheel purchased from a textile plant in Greenville, S..C, they used the Rocky Broad River to power their woodworking machines and turn a World War II U.S. Navy surplus DC machine generator. It was real easy to increase the speed of the water wheel using pulleys and belts to get the speed needed to run the generator. This system was used until the mid 80s."
Poteat incorporated renewable technologies into his contracting business in 1977 but stopped for a period after 1984. He's fond of saying, "We have the answers; nobody's asking the questions." This was especially true after the Carter era tax credits on renewable energy expired in the 1980s.
Despite approaching retirement age, Poteat is going strong. This year, he'll help Habitat for Humanity, which is building their first "Energy Star" rated house. Energy Star rated houses use at least 15 percent less energy than a code standard house.
Will the new administration in Washington help his business? He said the federal government is projected to spend $140 million in 2010 for retrofits on homes and buildings compared to $10 million in 2009.
What is the one thing he'd like to convey? "Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something."

What you can do
Save energy, save money and reduce human impact on climate change:
If everybody in the country used one compact fluorescent bulb, we could shut down at least 100 power plants.
In a typical U.S. home, heating and cooling account for about 56 percent of energy use. Turning thermostats up in summer and down in winter, even one or two degrees, is the major action individuals can take to save energy.
Fight "vampires!" Glowing red lights glow show that computers, TVs, DVDs, even phone chargers suck energy while turned off. Stand-by power can account for as much as 20 percent of home energy use. Unplug devices or turn off the power strip.
If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
Wrap your hot water heater in an insulated "blanket," available for about $15.
Energy efficient ink jet printers use less energy than laser printers (15 watts vs. 1,500 watts.)
From 1990 to 2001, the average length of a shopping trip grew from five to seven miles, and the number of shopping trips per household rose from 341 to 496 per year. Avoid short car trips — a cold engine uses 20 percent more fuel; avoid idling the car's motor.
Drive less. Each gallon of gasoline burned releases about two pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and does not go away.
The average food item on the American plate travels 1,800 miles. Eat locally grown items to save energy.
Information from Bresco, Ltd., U.S. Dept. of Energy, N.C. Council of Churches

Gwen Veazey is a member of the Morganton Writers Group and she and her family have lived in a passive solar home since 1981.