I was reading the paper today and I saw that Germany will no longer be using nuclear power as of 2022. I think that is great. We all need to start using solar power and renewables. On a recent trip to Ely Mn I saw solar power right on main street. One of my favorite stores, Piragis has gone solar and green.
When you drive by you can't help but notice the solar cells on the roof. While shopping I also noticed they advertise in the bathroom that the hot water is provided by the sun via solar hot water. How cool and what a neat way to advertised to people who want to go green in every way possible. I also noticed that Piragis is heavy into social media, they even had QR codes in the store. Way to go, Social media has made it's way as far north as you can go. We were only 5 miles from Canada and just a stone throw from the BWCA
There are lots of places going green in Ely. The main hospital has a Duro-Last cool white roof. With a cool white roof the owners not only save HVAC costs but reduce heat island effect. This is especially important next to natural areas such as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Mn and Canada.
I was very impressed with Ely this year. I hope in the future to see solar and Duro-Last roofs all over Ely and then the Green will spread all over Minnesota. They are one of the area's that has been into renewables the longest. I took a hike on the
Kawishiwi dam hike and saw a hydro power plant that has been producing hydro electric power since the 1920's imagine that, free power for 90 years!!!
Rock on Ely Minnesota
Well here we are its 2011 and everyone is getting scared about 2012. Are you scared? maybe a little? one thing is for sure we can all make a difference in the environment. It has never been easier to get a Solar Power installation cheap or free and now you can get a rebate on the cool white roof you put under it to.
This year in MN you can get a credit up to $500 for installing energy star shingles on your roof, this is on top of the federal rebates already out there for cool white roofs for commercial application. Then there are the solar rebates, some applications can get as much as 60% back from the state or power company and 30% back in federal taxes. There are also lots of local grants and incentives for people and businesses to install solar.
One thing is for sure we are not going to live forever and it will soon be the year 2012. Weather or not the world burns up we will still need power until then. Why not install solar and get free power from the sun for the rest of your days and help the environment and your pocketbook in the process.
