Behold the Power of the SUN!

Today we had a solar water heater installed in the house. Electricity here is so expensive that any way one can save in electricity is a good idea (for example using the clothes line as opposed to the clothes dryer, when it is not raining of course)...

Here is Charlotte and the girls celebrating the installation of our new little piece of green renewable energy conservation contribution (the two panels on the roof)....

Funny bit of information: there are more solar water heaters per capita here in Hilo than in Tucson......how's that for irony?


It actually turns out to be a very good deal, here is how it breaks down: the cost of the system is $6400.00 . But you get an immediate $1,000.00 rebate from the electric company. Of the balance $5,400.00 Uncle Sam (Federal Gvt) gives you back 30% or $1,620.00, Uncle Kamehameha (State Gvt) gives you back 35%, or $1,890, which leaves $1,890 to pay for the system.... AND they have a 12 month-no money down-no interest plan going on!


Supposedly, the solar water heater should cut about $80/month from the utility bill.....so that means a little over 2-year payback, not too bad eh!?


Looked into photovoltaic solar power cells, but those are still a bit too expensive with a looooong payback in spite of all the great incentives available, perhaps in the future....


Like Mother like Daughter

Syd has a science project for school so she is going to compare growing lettuce organically on the ground ( on front) Vs Hydroponically on floating rafts (the ones in the plastic tubs in the back)...... here she is with her set up:




Tiger Update

Tiger in April 2007

As per requested by Kelly, here is an update on Tiger. He is still with us, and he has grown to be a wonderful cat, he is extremely tolerant, sleeps a lot, eats more, and purrs even while he is eating or sleeping. We took him to the vet last week for a check up and the Vet said he was in very good shape and excellent health (the little pig weighs 13lbs! he was less than a pound when we got him in April)..... how much has he grown, just compare:

Tiger in April 07 sitting on my lap top

And in December 07, flattening my lap top (you can barely see it behind him)