Solar panels, clothesline help family slash energy bills

Tag : Energy Power Meter

"As we know, our power rates are going up." He said"So it probably will take less because that number is based onwhat we're paying right now.
"About 80 percent of our power is used with the solarpanels." Redmond says.
To get that kind of benefit, though, the family greatly cut theamount of energy they use.
"We've made a real effort to reduce how much electricity weneed to use in the first place, which is much less expensive to dothan to produce energy that you're wasting inside of yourhome."
The biggest lifestyle change is as low-tech as the solar panels arehigh-tech -- the family uses a clothesline to dry its laundry.
"It's ok just to simply hang your lines ... and not use yourdryer," says Redmond, who cut his electric bill by 15 to 20percent by ditching the dryer. "That to me would be the veryfirst thing anybody should do in terms of conserving electricityfor their home."
Redmond cooks using a solar oven, a small appliance that uses fourreflectors to heat food. The device uses only solar power andleaves no carbon footprint. It can reach temperatures of up to 350degrees in Redmond's front yard.
The family uses a small array of solar panels to charge iPods andcell phones. Whenever possible, Redmond runs errands on an electricbicycle that pulls a small trailer. Every little bit helps keeptheir power bill low.
For Redmond, it's not just about the money.
"It was more about what we thought was important for ourselvesand the decisions we're making for our family," he said.
Yet he does look forward to many years of lower power bills.
"This system that we have on our roof is going to last 30years, which will put me into my 70s," he said. "That's alot of free energy."