Solar Panels For Homes

Barack Obama recently made a campaign statement saying that as president he would help America become oil-independent in ‘our lifetime.’ Sounds like a wonderful goal, doesn’t it? But is it realistic? Let’s explore what life would be like if we rid ourselves of using oil (petroleum). Prepare to be shocked by the time you finish reading this!

Very few of us really understand how pervasive oil by-products are in our lives. Just about everything we use daily, is derived from petroleum (oil). But it’s very important to understand that the big user of oil is not your family car, truck or SUV. One 42-gallon barrel of oil creates 19.4 gallons of gasoline. The rest of that barrel goes into making more than 6000 items using oil in the manufacturing of these products.

A good place to start on the list of these products is with you. You’re probably reading this on your home or office computer, right? Look at your computer and you’ll see that it’s made of mostly plastic (monitor case, keyboard, mouse, maybe even the screen if it’s a laptop). Guess what? Plastic is made from oil! Could we make computer components out of metal? Some, yes, but not the circuit boards or any wires that require insulating coverings made of plastic. So computers would have to go in an oil-free society.

At this point you might be tempted to call a friend to tell them about this article, but in an oil-free society there would be no home or cell phones – they’re made from plastic! Metal phones as an alternative? Nope, cell phones need view screens made of plastic and all phones still would need circuit boards, which are made from oil. And most of us enjoy being entertained by listening to music and watching movies on CDs or DVDs, but those are also made from plastic. Almost forgot a big item made from plastic – credit cards! What would we do without those?

Now look at yourself and what clothes you’re wearing. Anything with polyester in it? If so it’s made from oil! What about the carpeting you’re walking on – unless it’s wool it’s most likely made from oil. How about your other home furnishings? Anything made of plastic like the inside of refrigerators, dish washers, microwaves, then TV sets, audio equipment, toys, curtains and drapes, window shades, all plastic control knobs on everything, all PVC plumbing pipes and fixtures and of course the electrical wiring would not have the protective insulating covering that is made from plastic (oil) so that’s a big problem. Open your medicine cabinet and you’ll find medicines, vitamins and other personal products made from oil (petroleum). Say goodbye to KY!

There are many more items inside your home made from oil, but let’s step outside and see what else would be affected by an oiless environment. The power lines bringing electricity into your home would have to disappear because they require a plastic insulating covering. I guess power could eventually come from solar panels transmitting electricity via fiber optic cable, but then there’s that pesky problem of what to insulate those cables with that’s not made from oil. Take a look at your roof – got shingles on it? Hmmm, made from asphalt, which comes from oil! Do you live on a paved street? Again, if it’s asphalt it comes from oil. Same with highways and interstates across the country – made from oil by-products. Think about that for a minute!

Getting into your car, let’s look at all the things made from oil. Probably the entire interior is some form of plastic right down to the seat coverings. Oh, the seats may feel like they’re made of soft cloth, but most likely its polyester – oil! No point in thinking all of this could be made from metal and cloth (wool or cotton) because that isn’t practical or safe and would cost a fortune to manufacture. Besides, all the wiring in a car is covered with plastic insulation.

Of course all is not lost on divorcing ourselves from oil usage. If we’re truly serious about it, we could develop ways to eliminate most if not all petroleum-based manufactured products. Electronic equipment could be made from crystals enclosed in cases made from vegetable oil and TVs would have hologram images. Vehicles could be powered by and ride on projected magnetic roadways and highways could be made from cheap, synthetic concrete. Dwellings and commercial buildings could be powered by solar energy beamed down from satellites to crystal rooftop transmitters. Clothing could be made from special, genetically engineered plants. And for anything else that would still need to be made from or run on oil, present-day technology is about to produce engineered enzymes that convert waste plant material into oil.

I’ll wrap up this article with this question: how many things could you go without in order to stop using products made from oil?

Ron Wolf is an automotive magazine writer and contributing editor in addition to 45+ years in advertising and marketing. He enjoys selling products on ebay and on his harmonica website

Simple solar power system

Power Bright PW200-12 Power Inverter 200 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC $24.79 Power Bright Power Inverter for AC "juice" anywhere! Here's a huge range of Inverters to turn DC battery power into plug-in AC, so you're electrified, for outdoor work, entertainment, whatever. For job sites, campsites and beyond. Standard / peak wattage outputs indicated. They feature modified sine wave function for smooth power that "babies" electronics, and: Durable anodized aluminum case; Buil...

Tripp Lite PV2000FC PV 2000W 12V DC to AC Inverter Plus with Charge/Load LED's $383.26 Harness your vehicle''s battery to efficiently power office equipment on the road or power tools at a work site. Continuously supplies up to 2000 watts of 120V AC power to 2 AC outlets from any 12V battery or automotive DC source. Frequency control locks AC output at 60Hz for operating stability of motor loads. Includes a set of high current DC input terminals for simple, permanent installation. H...

Goal0 11002 Sherpa 50 Battery $169.99 Lighten your load compact and expandable power to go. It's one thing to have power. And it's another to have it in a compact design that is easy to pack, light to carry and expandable to fit changing power needs. The Sherpa 50 takes the bulk out of rechargeable power and offers a lightweight yet durable way to bring power along with you. Less than two pounds, it's the ideal shape to pack in everyt...

Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 $53.99 Solar-powered wireless keyboard charges itself whenever there's light and stays charged for at least three months in total darkness, eliminating the need for batteries, power bricks and charging cables. Thin keyboard features advanced 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity that gives you the reliability of a cord plus wireless convenience of fast data transmission, virtually no delays or dropouts, and 128-...

WCI Quality Wireless Waterproof Slim 2.0 Bluetooth Keyboard For Apple iPad, iPad 2 With Charging Solar Panel - Built In iPad Leather Protection Case, Folio Stand $38.99 Brand New accessory for the beloved iPad, iPhone and smart phone, as well as the PS3 and Bluetooth Computers! Pairs automatically and stays connected; allows you to type and control device from a distance of up to 30 feet! Comes With an Integrated Padded Secure iPad Cover That will Keep Your iPad Dry And Safe. Easy, User Friendly And Affordable, It Is A Great Alternative To Other Pricier Models Ou...

Eco Traveler 16 in. Solar Laptop Messenger Bag (Grey) $108.77 The Eco Traveler Solar Power Bag is a truly innovative product that will forever change the way people use their backpacks and briefcases. The bag utilizes patented light optimizing technology which allows you to conveniently charge your iPhone, iPod, cell phone, GPS, PDA, etc. The built-in flexible solar panel powers internal battery, giving you the ability to easily keep these devices charged al...

V-dimension Helius Solar Powered Backpack $89.99 V-DIMENSION HELIUS...

Eco Traveler 17 in. Expandable Solar Laptop Briefcase The Eco Traveler Solar Power Bag is a truly innovative product that will forever change the way people use their backpacks and briefcases. The bag utilizes patented light optimizing technology which allows you to conveniently charge your iPhone, iPod, cell phone, GPS, PDA, etc. The built-in flexible solar panel powers internal battery, giving you the ability to easily keep these devices charged al...

Eco Traveler 16 in. Solar Laptop Messenger Bag The Eco Traveler Solar Power Bag is a truly innovative product that will forever change the way people use their backpacks and briefcases. The bag utilizes patented light optimizing technology which allows you to conveniently charge your iPhone, iPod, cell phone, GPS, PDA, etc. The built-in flexible solar panel powers internal battery, giving you the ability to easily keep these devices charged al...

Premium Solar Charger - Ultra Thin Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger for Cell Phones, iPhone, iPod, and Most USB Powered Device - Also Includes Built-in LED Reading Light and Window / Windshield Suction Cups $27.99 The XTG Technology Ultra-Slim "Solar Portable Battery and Charger" is the perfect solution for emergency power and power on the go. The XTG-SOL1500 includes: Built-in Lithium Ion battery that can be charged using the provided USB cable or using sunlight via the solar panel. USB output to charge your cell phone, smart phone, Mp3, Bluetooth headset and more on the go (using your device's existing...