Slow Boat

So far, we've escaped the rainy skies that are deluging the East Coast.

Today, less travelogue and more information.

You've been following our slow, solar-powered perambulations, and you've been thinking to yourself, "A solar boat is very nice, but how about my HOUSE?
Can solar power run a TV? Air conditioning? Garbage disposal? None of which that crazy boat has! If I put some panels on my roof, what's it going to cost me? Those puppies are expensive! What's the payback time?  Is it worth it?"

Here are a few resources to help you explore those questions.



The website solarpowerrocks.com has information about incentives to go solar in your state

• Check this year's state-by-state "solar power report card"
• You might also be interested in the section on "performance payments" (what you could earn by selling power back to the grid)

Most states and/or regions have renewable energy associations with informative websites and links to local service providers.

• Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association 
• Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association  (New Jersey, PA, Delaware)
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (check out the Green Buildings Open House this weekend!

This U.S. Department of Energy website has some useful links, including state by state energy code information.

And, on another alternative energy track, this just in from the NYTimes about wind power in Italy: