Click Here to BidThese several days I didn’t paint. I was carried away doing a DIY green energy project. Like most people, I am really for going green, but I have not taken any real action. I still turn on my AC to beat the hot Texas summer, and water my lawn with a sprinkler system. But one incident has forced me to go green.
You probably know I have a small property in the Texas hill country (I posted a painting of a propane tank this spring). I bought it early this year, but I hardly go there. I did have the electricity and water turned on, but I have not used any. I thought it should not cost me much, however, I was deadly wrong. Besides more than $100 turning-on fee, the fee for just keeping the power and water available was $78 per month. After throwing money away for five months, I finally picked up the phone calling the water company to stop the “service”. The lady on the other end nicely talked to me: If I stopped the water now, I couldn’t turn it on again within six months, otherwise I will be charged availability fees for all the months in between…. OK. THANKS. After being mad for a short while, I determined: I WILL DO IT MYSELF. So I started my green energy projects.
My first project was a solar power system. I went on eBay bought 36 solar cells ($60) and made my first solar panel. I bought two golf cart batteries at Costco. I got the charge controller and power inverter on-line. After two weeks fun work, I got the system working yesterday. Last night we had a party. Under the solar powered lights, I played a CD of Beethoven with a solar powered boom box. It was so great.
Sorry about the sidetracking from art, but it was really fun. Next I will do rain water harvesting, and a solar water heater.
You probably know I have a small property in the Texas hill country (I posted a painting of a propane tank this spring). I bought it early this year, but I hardly go there. I did have the electricity and water turned on, but I have not used any. I thought it should not cost me much, however, I was deadly wrong. Besides more than $100 turning-on fee, the fee for just keeping the power and water available was $78 per month. After throwing money away for five months, I finally picked up the phone calling the water company to stop the “service”. The lady on the other end nicely talked to me: If I stopped the water now, I couldn’t turn it on again within six months, otherwise I will be charged availability fees for all the months in between…. OK. THANKS. After being mad for a short while, I determined: I WILL DO IT MYSELF. So I started my green energy projects.
My first project was a solar power system. I went on eBay bought 36 solar cells ($60) and made my first solar panel. I bought two golf cart batteries at Costco. I got the charge controller and power inverter on-line. After two weeks fun work, I got the system working yesterday. Last night we had a party. Under the solar powered lights, I played a CD of Beethoven with a solar powered boom box. It was so great.
Sorry about the sidetracking from art, but it was really fun. Next I will do rain water harvesting, and a solar water heater.
Way to go!! I'm sure they have a captive audience out there in the country with only "one" source for water & power. Going around them is wonderful and a fun challenge as well. You'll now probably spend more time there and enjoy it much more with your "creative" improvements.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Vicki
Absolutely the way to go! Just another way to be creative......
ReplyDeletefirst the painting - it's really lovely - that leaf! those pears - the colors just glow! thank you!
ReplyDeletei think your project sounds really good - glad to hear about it! and so great that it worked, too!
Beautiful painting and a great idea for enjoying your property.
ReplyDeleteI would like to read and see more of your "green" adaptations. I think it's very interesting and inspiring. I would like to have a solar powered free standing art studio someday. So if you posted pictures, I would really enjoy seeing them. It could be a separate blog, like Carol Marine did of the building of her studio.
ReplyDeleteYour a really remarkable guy. You just tackle the stuff as it comes along instead of just talking about it. Your proving to be an an inspiration to some of us. Your work ethic is truly exemplary — not to mention your painting…
ReplyDeleteway to go with going green! and nice painting too!
ReplyDeleteTrès jolie peinture...
ReplyDeleteI like this acid green
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Mariusz
www.mariuszkornatka.posterous.com
Love your work. Your stories are always interesting. thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteNice one qiang-hang. I see you tried getting the pear to fill in some gap. Maybe another pair(vertical) in the background and then launch it.
ReplyDelete~Kirby