Solar water heaters are something that can have a dramatic payoff and they cost much less than photovoltaics. You need to know what you're doing to prevent pipes from freezing and to avoid leaks, but that just requires knowledge and skill rather than lots of cash.
I've seen projects on the web as simple as coils of pipe laid in a glassed over, insulated pool of water (the water provides thermal mass). The heat reservoir pre-heats well water before it reaches your water heater inside and reduces energy use. There are also much fancier systems with mounted panels.
You can also upgrade insulation or install more efficient windows. Conservation isn't as sexy as putting up solar panels, but it probably offers a quicker return on your investment.
Richard Dawkins makes an amazing point about the scale of molecules versus day to day objects in Unweaving the Rainbow:
"For example, every time you drink a glass of water you are imbibing at least one molecule that passed through the bladder of Oliver Cromwell"
There are so many more molecules in a glass of water than there are glasses of water on the planet that statistically, some bizarre things turn out to be true (assuming even mixing).
So I guess we can add the corollary that:
Every time you drink a glass of water, you are imbibing at least one medication that passed through the bladder of your neighbors.
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Solar water heaters are something that can have a dramatic payoff and they cost much less than photovoltaics. You need to know what you're doing to prevent pipes from freezing and to avoid leaks, but that just requires knowledge and skill rather than lots of cash.
I've seen projects on the web as simple as coils of pipe laid in a glassed over, insulated pool of water (the water provides thermal mass). The heat reservoir pre-heats well water before it reaches your water heater inside and reduces energy use. There are also much fancier systems with mounted panels.
You can also upgrade insulation or install more efficient windows. Conservation isn't as sexy as putting up solar panels, but it probably offers a quicker return on your investment.
Good luck with your projects.
Richard Dawkins makes an amazing point about the scale of molecules versus day to day objects in Unweaving the Rainbow:
"For example, every time you drink a glass of water you are imbibing at least one molecule that passed through the bladder of Oliver Cromwell"
There are so many more molecules in a glass of water than there are glasses of water on the planet that statistically, some bizarre things turn out to be true (assuming even mixing).
So I guess we can add the corollary that:
Every time you drink a glass of water, you are imbibing at least one medication that passed through the bladder of your neighbors.