Since California consumes almost all its electricity capacity, one would expect the state of California to encourage home owners to install solar heating, solar electricity generator and  so on.
212044
Go rent a movie called Enron: The Smartest Guys In the Room
647788
The should, be sure to get one that says its for computers and is a high number of joules.
516069
The first step to energy independance is to reduce to an absolute minimum.  Having electric wires coming into our homes, we have become used to unlimited energy availability.  Find ways to maximize efficiency and minimize the amount of energy required.\n\nThe only reasonable budget I've seen from someone installing a full off grid system was in a house which was far from the existing power lines.  The cost to run poles and wires was on the order of $15000.  That immediately created an option for solar / wind and off grid independance.  The home owner installed solar panels for heat and battery charging.  A wind turbine supplemented the photovoltaic system.  He budgeted energy consumption and purchased very efficient appliances.  In the end his total energy created was just slightly over calculated requirements.\n\nIf you are entering this project with dreams of living forever with free unlimited electricity you will be sadly disappointed.  The equipment and installation is expensive.  The amount of energy being created is greatly limited and you will have to cut back greatly.  You will learn not to leave the television on with no one in the room.  No more lights on in every room either.\n\nIt is a very positive project, and absolutely worthwhile.  I'm working on a small wind turbine project.  It will consist of a 800 watt generator mounted on top of an 80 foot guyed tower.  Right now it's tied up in municipal permits and other nonsense.  In the end I hope to generate about 10% of my household electrical requirements.  Payback time, assuming no downtime, maintenance or repairs will be about 12 years.  Clearly it is not a money saving investment.  I view it as a hobby to learn with and explore.  I could blow an equal amount of money in a few months on cigarettes or beer and have nothing to show for it in the end.  My justification for the money spent is to have fun with it.\n\nHave a look at the project as it has proceeded so far.  I have the wiring diagram, charge controller circuit, pictures of foundations, and so on online.  Contact information is there as well.\n\nhttp://members.rennlist.org/warren/wind.html\n\nGood luck with your project!
43119
Also...everyone assumes that every single house has a pool in the backyard, too. What people forget now is that California is one of the most expensive states in which to live - and most people are too busy scrambling for a living to do anything but WORK!
278477
Yes....do it on alternative energy sources
572437
The power output is smaller than the power input as most of the energy usually has been converted to heat in the process...
364205
I would start with the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. The might have info on holiday food,clothing and toy functions that your friend may qualify for. Also as far as the utilities go, see if your friend qualifies for asistance from the companies themselves. Down here in L.A. we can receive discounts on our bills if we qualify. I also did not think that by law, certain utilities, like heat, could be turned off in a home if there were children living there. Your friend really needs some help. Good Luck!
337332
try asking the californian goverenaor\nhe ll help u out im sure
107112
i know the sugar cane mills in hawaii produce more energy than they consume, they sell it back to the power company.
674514
its some type of energy thing for some
130542
Solar energy is horribly inefficient, it only converts appx 3-4% of the energy available it, it costs a fortune to. i would suggest using a different form of renewable source. use solar energy to heat you water (very simple non-electrical system - black hose-piping within a black box - supprisingly effective for what you may thtink it is, this also saves money on electricity. \n\nYou could convert your central heating to a heat engine system (loads of info online about it) - expensive outlay but unlike solar cells very efficient with it.\n\nother than that common household electrical requirements nowadays are sickening and really need the national grid juice to power it. If you have a river/stream by your house tha can easily be harnessed to power all your lights, refridgerator and basic amenities ... - however how many ppl actually have a stream... LUCKY BAS***D'S!\n\nGood luck with What ever you do, any one cutting down their fuel useage is good!!!
191623
Alternate energy sources are our next step to stabilize our economy and lessen the dependence on other countries to provide us that need. However, they are extremely costly and hard to come by. Wind mills are a disaster in terms of the amount of space it needs to operate. Solar panels are not effecient everywhere, say Seattle or Alaska. Nuclear fission is the next step but since it is potentially dangerous as nuclear bombs, it's being closely monitored thus dampening the research process. I guess we are still depended on oil is because it is so universal and exremely easy to use and harness everywhere. I agree with you, if I had enough money to fund researches like these, I'd do it in a heartbeat!
286735
Drive less (or stop alltogether) and lobby your politicians for renewable energy reform.  Also, turn the lights out, keep your lint filter clean, skip a shower, turn computer and monitor off when not in use, eat organic, use natural cleaning supplies, put furnace on a timer, turn water off while soaping up in shower, reuse everything, read Walden by Henry David Thereau, etc.
356576
for this u need special grade pure silicon.pieces of almost 2 square cm need to be linked by means of silver in order to prevent loss of energy.this arrangement should be erected in a place which receives maximum sunlight.
465038
Get some power generators.
266357
Hey, the website I've listed below has a bunch of good ones all over California.\n\nMatt
183383
Depends on the state.