GOING GREEN
IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA “Centsible” Sustainability is On-Trend by Linda Sechrist
I
n the 1950s, TV star Dinah Shore sang an advertising jingle that invited America to see the USA in a Chevrolet. That was when the average cost of a car was $1,510 and a gallon of gas just 18 cents. It was also 50 years before anyone uttered the phrase “carbon footprint” or thought about the pollutants their Chevy emitted. Today, with our focus on climate reality and how to create a more sustainable future, it’s cool to talk about the shrink- ing size of our carbon footprint, what we’re doing to reduce or offset carbon emissions with en- vironmentally friendly measures and the money we’ve saved as a result. For individuals that own electric or hybrid cars, or solar panels that supply energy for a hot water heater, pool or HVAC system, conversations about a greener future come easy.
Driving Lighter James Ritter, president and CEO of Pulse Business Solutions, in Fort Myers, wanted to “drive lighter” on his daily trips to consult with clients. Intent on traveling 125 miles per day in style, he purchased a Chevy Volt. Ritter estimates that he shaves 805 pounds of CO2
James Ritter and his Chevy Volt
thus allowing a longer drive range than most hybrids. “My car averages 38 to 41 miles on a full electric charge, which equals 9 kWh of electricity. I’m regularly averaging 900 miles between re- fueling and saving $35 a week,” notes Ritter, whose monthly savings is the equivalent of 29 percent of his lease payment. “I agree with J.D. Power and Associates, who rank the Volt as having the highest vehicle appeal among sub-compact and com- pact cars,” says Ritter, who plans to install solar panels on his home to charge his car battery. “I can plug into a standard 110- or 200-volt outlet, which only costs me $1.20 to charge. However, I want to walk all of my techno- logical talk, so solar will provide the power for my computers and Internet modem, as well,” he explains.
This 5KW PV system and solar hot water system now qualify for about $17,600 in rebates and tax credits.
a month from
his footprint by driving the hybrid electric vehicle, which combines a conventional internal combus- tion engine propulsion system with an electric motor. The Volt drives on battery power until the battery runs low, and then auto- matically switches to gas power,
32 Collier/Lee Counties Tubular Solar Skylights (photo from Fafco Solar Energy)
swfl.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
Saving with Solar According to Aaron Fields, third generation co-owner of Advance Solar and Spa, Inc., in Fort Myers, Ritter joins a growing number of Southwest Florida residents opting for solar installations, thanks to a reduc- tion in retail costs coupled with state and federal tax credits and incentives. “The cool thing about solar is that from the moment the instal- lation is complete, you are saving money,” advises Dominick Zito, sales manager for Fafco Solar Energy, in Cape Coral, which specializes in all types of solar
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