THERE’S NO EXCUSE FOR OUR ABUSE

We’ve been in Leland for a year now and we’ve had an amazing time exploring the area. But I am bothered by the deforestation, the burning and the littering. Respecting the environment needs to be a MINDSET NOT A CHOICE.

I also find it a shame that our recycling cost was $250 a year for a bucket. I’ve since found a place I can haul and deposit cans, bottles, cardboard, etc. for free. Economic status doesn’t matter.

ALTERNATE SOURCES OF POWER MUST BE FOUND

The age of electric vehicles is upon us. It started innocently enough in 1994 with the oddly shaped hybrid known as the Toyota Prius. That car got over 50 MPG due to a small electric motor that ran sometimes and was gas powered sometimes. Hybrids still exist today by numerous competitors, but straight electric vehicles are quickly becoming the norm even for prestigious brands like Aston Martin.

Unfortunately, not everyone can afford an electric vehicle (price range $35,000 – over $100,000).  But that could be misleading due to the following: you’ll want to have a decent home charger ($1,000 to $2,500), your insurance rate will go up (25% to 100%+) and you’ll need to worry about range (varies from 175 for a Cooper- to 520 miles for a Lucid Air Dream). Note: one cost $35K the other cost $139K!

Now for the positives. Rebates in the form of tax credits on new vehicles can be as high as $7,500 but are limited to the first 200,000 units. Some used cars are even eligible for a partial rebate. On a good note, in 2024 you’ll get the cash back when purchasing the vehicle. Negatively in 2032 all rebates cease.

Cost savings on electricity compared to gas is currently estimated at 50%. Real simple – if you currently spend $50 a week on gasoline, you’d save about $1,300 yearly. Maintenance is touted to be much less on e-cars – never again will you need to change oil. That alone would be a savings of thousands.

Surely, the environment would benefit with the non-reliance on fossil fuels and elimination of auto emissions. For now, we have declined, but maybe if one or more of our beloved cars die, we’ll circle back. Last year we “cut the cord” with cable TV (stream with YouTube TV) and the savings rolled in. But that was just a warmup….

We always wanted to go solar back “home” in Connecticut but it wasn’t feasible due to the house pointing in the wrong direction and too many tall trees. Our Carolina setup is the opposite, there are no trees and our house is oriented in the right direction for maximum sun capture and the panels are on the back roofs. They are sleek and innocuous so we decided to go solar!

Start to finish the project took three months. The panels and electrical work took less than two days and the rest was lead time for the parts, approvals from homeowners’ association and inspections. Based on the computer model we have 20 panels (guaranteed for 25 years) and based on empirical data it is estimated that in eight years we will have recovered our cost. In the meantime, our home will escalate in value. Right now, according to Zillow, solar homes in North Carolina carry, on average, a 4% premium.

As you can probably tell, I’m for saving the environment and money.  How about you?

NOTE: the headings on this article are two of the telling lines from the visionary song written in 1975 by Tower of Power There’s Only So Much Oil in the Ground