Solar and Wind, some thoughts...

Are you one of the many still thinking about Solar and/or Wind for your Boat, Dock, and/or Home?

We have been travelling around the past couple of months to various Marinas from the northern end of Land Between the Lakes to the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. What we have observed is an abundance of Private Boat Docks sitting out on the water that would be ideal for Solar and/or Wind Systems. Some estimates we received have the number of Private Boat Docks well over 10,000 in the region!

For those who keep their Boat at a Marina it may be more difficult to acquire permission from the Marina Management to have Solar and/or Wind Power to augment your Boats' systems. For those with Private Boat Docks it ought to be an easy decision to make.

So, Why aren't more people doing it?

We don't have the answer to that, just the knowledge that more people can easily do it, many can do it as a DIY Project or hire a Contractor to do it... We realise that many of the Camps or Homes along the Rivers and Lakes in the Southeast United States have trees that provide protection and shade. Due to various Waterfront Protective Zoning Laws, those trees must stay. Quite a number of these homes have their own boat docks, generally with roofs, that protrude out away from the trees on the bank and have ample hours of sunlight to provide Solar Power to the dock and in some cases for the Camp or Home. Now for Wind Power, the obvious placement is out on the River or Lake affixed to the Boat Dock. We all know that there are the many hot and sultry days of summer on the water, no wind... There are just as many days and nights when the breeze blows strong out on the water and not a breath is felt on the shore. I remember going out for those moonlit night rides on the Tennessee River, sitting on the hook, and feeling a 12 to 15 knot breeze cooling us off!

With all the incentives the Government has to offer these days it is our hope people will look into and take action to supplement their power needs for the Boat, Camp, and the Home...

Solar Panels are becoming more efficient and the costs are reasonable, even more so with rebates if your project qualifies...

Wind Generators are generating Electricity at lower wind speeds and doing it very quietly, again, some rebates may apply to your project...

This is where I plug what we have available to you from our Website, please visit http://www.greenboatingusa.com to see our newest products for Solar, Wind, and other Eco-Friendly Products. Consider starting small and working up over time, it is relatively inexpensive to acquire a 20w system to keep your Batteries trickle charged or a 65w system to provide some lighting on your dock. Take part in our Forum or email us your questions and concerns...

Have You Calculated Your Carbon Footprint???

What is your Boating Carbon Footprint?

The Carbon Footprint of your boat is not just the emissions produced from the engine(s). There are many factors that add to it just like at home. Do you recycle? Are you using bamboo, paper, plastic, or Styrofoam utensils, plates, and cups? How about the use of Solar or Wind Power Generation? These are just a few examples of  the many other things that can make a difference...

How do I calculate it?

Here's where we plug our Website, http://www.greenboatingusa.com, there is a simple calculator located on our Carbon Footprint page...

What do I do to reduce it?

Do most everything you do at home and a few simple additional things and you will immediately reduce it. 

A few examples would be:

*Do not run the RPMs' as high as you may have in the past. 

*Be sure to have regular maintenance performed on all mechanical parts of your    vessel.

*Follow this up with being sure your Marina, Boatyard, or Mechanic recycles all  waste fluids.

*Recycle your waste, or better yet, get your whole Marina to Recycle...

*Look into Solar or Wind Power to augment the systems presently in place, see how  much you can reduce the utility bill at the Marina, your Boat Dock, and out on the  hook.

Why should I do anything if others' don't?

My simple answer is why not? My second simple answer is to live by example! Believe me, we are far from it around here, we do reduce, reuse and recycle, we can always do more, much more...

A Final Note:

This is not our first Blog, but our first of many we hope to post here on this format. Come check us out on Twitter, MySpace, our FreeForum, and most importantly our Website....

We are working diligently toward our goal of acquiring a vessel to get us back out on the water to be able to meet many of you face-to-face and learn more as well as assist others to trying to be Eco-Friendly, Clean and Green.... 

We're always looking for ways to afford to get out on the water, any input or suggestions are welcome...