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Originally Posted by lwmcguire
Couple of honest detailed post earlier about the not so green aspects of wind and solar
People like to hear and do things that make them feel good and tend to believe the same without checking facts
The only time either is worth pursuing is if you're a true boondocker that doesn't want to use your generator
Look at the real carbon footprint and cost of a MW of green energy
You will get a much better return on simply managing your energy usage than trying to produce it
I see all the folks that want unlimited hot water with continuous duty heaters and others with a black barrel mounted solar showers
Moderation and common sense needs to be applied to everything
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I don’t think anyone here (this is an RV forum) is interested in solar because of some “green” concept or carbon footprint mentality, and for the most part, not economics either. And none of it “needs” anything. Common sense is a wobbler. Moderation is primarily due to practicality.
But just so no one misunderstands my interest in RV solar (and as of this thread, wind), it’s because I don’t like the sound of generators, even distant generators. And admittedly since building a very successful solar kit for my rig, Ive become quite bigoted towards generator addicts.
But back to green carbon footprints and saving the planet: As I’ve said before, I’m all for clean air and water, I don’t litter, I respect my environment, and I even feel rather stewardly towards it. (My first major was Forestry, my second Environmental Studies, my third Environmental Health with a minor in human parasitology. I ended up being a fireman. Analyze that for a moment.)
But:
To think that we mere humans through our acts or omissions can change the climate is both arrogant and just plain delusional. We aren’t that powerful. The Earth will win no matter what we do.
160 million years ago there was six times the carbon in the atmosphere as there is now. Thousands, probably millions, of species came and went before humans had the capacity to light a fire. The North American Ice Sheet has been gone for over 10,000 years.
And none of it was the result of the internal combustion engine, corporations, 1%er’s or whatever. Nature holds all the cards. We are just visiting. So yes, be a conscientious guest with good manners, but don’t fool yourself into thinking we are running the joint.
Whew! I hope I cleared that up! Ok, now the “back on topic” part (did I mention this would be a bit circuitous?):
RV solar is for RV solar. That’s it. No other reason matters. Moderation is for the budget conscious. Common sense dictates system design. Politics and social engineering for another forum.
Cheers!
(And yes, I am now quoting myself...
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