What options do renters have who are on Mains Grid Power and want to go Solar?

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What options do renters have who are on Mains Grid Power and want to go Solar?

by Kimbal
(Peregian Beach, Queensland, Australia.)

I am a qualified Electronics Technician living in sunny Queensland (Sunshine coast ) and unfortunately I rent. I am also out of work existing on Centerelink, not because I want to but because of the fact there just is no work for mature age people like myself, especially in my field of Electronics. I have the technical ability, the time, and the know how, to build a reliable solar network from scratch; but neither the funds, nor the psychological incentive when there are so many basic obsticals in front of me. Morally I am in favour of alternative technology and have been for decades, but never having owned a piece of land nor had the money to invest.

One magor obstical is - it's illegal in Queensland to do your own Solar installation unless you're licenced. Its also Illegal to build such gear privately for others unless it is approved and you're licenced. Getting a licence means one has to go back as an apprentice and start at the bottom and work through the sytem. These laws are impemented from State Parliment and will not change in the state of queensland as licening is a revenue raiser for the government and a work monopolizer for the unions such at the ELECTRICAL TRADE UNION or ETU.

Also the cost and availability of spare parts are hard to source in Australia. Silicon solar cells, large Power transformers to make your own sinewave inverter, batteries and many other items are not always off the shelf and have to be ordered in if available. There is also the cost and the issue of making the system mobile and portable to move from house to house every 6-12 months if you rent; other wise your land lord gets it off you for free and you have to buy another setup all over again.

Land lords, Real Estate Agents and local Councils are not always open to this new technology being implemented illegally in their area of financial investment - being the rental property you live in.

So that leaves at least 60% of the Australian population with no hope of ever going Solar or getting on their feet.

I am one of the "lucky" ones because I know how to maintain and design a system from scratch - but ONLY in that respect. I am still not Electrically Licenced though I have 30 years behind me in the Electronics Industry.

Many single mums with kids and even many men, would'nt have a clue on how to maintain such a complex set up. To get an outside tradesman in will cost big money they just cannot afford; yet our energy bills are going up and up every few months. The reality is the system is not working for people.

2/. Finally under the new RoHS laws implemented as of 2006 - one of the 6 banned substances is Cadmium. One official RoHS website states:

" Working in partnership with the policy lead at BERR (The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform), NMO is the UK Enforcement Authority for the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2008 (the ?RoHS Regulations?). These Regulations implement EU Directive 2002/95 which bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants."

Ironically the above 6 substances are allowed to be used for Military and Governmental purposes, but not Civilian and Commercial use because of the toxic nature to the environment. Yet Cadmium is a light sensitive element which is used in some of the more efficient Solar cell designs which can assit in bringing down the price to the consumer. Again Mercury and Lead are very good for high capacity batteries, but they too are banned under RoHS law. Very few alternatives are cheaply available and not always better, creating a whole host of other technical issues for both Manufacturer and the Consumer.

In order to reduce cost and increase efficiency, such banned substances need to be kept in place to assist the environment, by giving us more efficient alternative energy systems and hence lower greenhouse emmisions. On this basis, I really don't think this RoHS ruling has been thought through by Polititions and Scientists.

1/: Please advise what is being done to resolve these issues for renters, or is solar power only available for the few elite rich in society?

2/: What is being done to practically resolve these RoHS issues?

Sincerely yours,
Kimbal.

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What options do renters have who are on Mains Grid Power and want to go Solar?

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Jun 10, 2009
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Preaching to the converted !
by: Kimbal

Thanks Roger - as I said above "You're Preaching To The Converted" here.

One of the reasons I placed my issues on your site was in the hope others will read it and maybe get the message.

While I am here I might just say - I have been chasing up availability & prices for single solar cells to build my own panels (at least looking into at cheaper technical/ manufacturing options).

I emailed about three AUSTRALIAN Solar Outlets only to find "nobody" seems to sell them; just the full solar panel, at a small fortune. There is the first obstacle I have to deal with.

The second obstacle was one supplier ignored my email questions altogether, but rather and told me about the Australian Government rebate was being stopped as of 8 hours ago (yesterday 10th June) rather than the end of the month 30th June; but credits where in place still if I wanted them.

For a start I did not ask about rebates and have no interest in getting them and would not qualify if I BUILT MY OWN SOLAR SYSTEM as a mobile trailer unit. Basically I want a source of single solar cells I can buy within the country. My result was NO answer!

So unless I get out my science text books and make my own cells which can be done (and I do have the books and patents) - going down the comercial road is not helping things.

I know I am not the only one and as you commented "more than a few need to rock the boat".

So there is another obstacle to grapple with.

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Jun 10, 2009
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Submitted by: Kimbal

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Thanks Roger - as I said above "You're Preaching To The Converted" here. One of the reasons I placed my issues on your site was in the hope others will read it and maybe get the message. While I am here I might just say - I have been chasing up availability & prices for single solar cells to build my own panels (at least looking into at cheaper technical/ manufacturing options). I emailed about three AUSTRALIAN Solar Outlets only to find "nobody" seems to sell them; just the full solar panel, at a small fortune. There is the first obstacle I have to deal with. The second obstacle was one supplier ignored my email questions altogether, but rather and told me about the Australian Government rebate was being stopped as of 8 hours ago (yesterday 10th June) rather than the end of the month 30th June; but credits where in place still if I wanted them. For a start I did not ask about rebates and have no interest in getting them and would not qualify if I BUILT MY OWN SOLAR SYSTEM as a mobile trailer unit. Basically I want a source of single solar cells I can buy within the country. My result was NO answer! So unless I get out my science text books and make my own cells which can be done (and I do have the books and patents) - going down the comercial road is not helping things. I know I am not the only one and as you commented "more than a few need to rock the boat". So there is another obstacle to grapple with.

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Jun 10, 2009
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Agreed and frustrated
by: Roger

Hi again.

Yes, it sometimes feels as if one is jusy headbutting a brick wall when it comes to governments and their policies.

The best thing I think we can do is to make noise about it. At work I am just about in a continuous conversatin with those around me about the apathy of the populace, the degradation of the education system (I am a teacher) and the corrupt and incompetent nature of our so-called leaders.

I think it is necessary to bring these issues out into the open as often as possible, as this big core of laziness and incompetence bordering on corruption is THE challenge we face.

Maybe we've had it so good (relatively) for so long nobody wants to risk rocking the boat. But it's just not good enough as an attitude.

Roger.

Jun 08, 2009
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Part 2 of 2 - Response to Roger's comments and some added comments to my first post.
by: Anonymous

(Continued from part 1).

the rich companies can buy up carbon trading units so they can pollute more; move overseas stripping us of our jobs (sacking hundreds of good Australian workers at a minutes notice) where the company becomes exempt from changes in the Australian law and meanwhile gains more profits at our expense for their shareholders;

and our Government (both State & Federal, including the Military and essential services) can still have the use of all the banned substances such as Lead, Cadmium and Mercury as they see fit (since they have some exemption from RoHS law);

the Government and local Councils can dilly-dally around aurguing about the lack of housing and employment (both issues have become an alltime crisis within the Australian community)---

I see all this as a vast "core issue" that is going unadressed - telling me as "Mr Nobody" that those in control have no idea what they are doing, or I am too "stupid" to understand the way our system functions and the welfare of the planet. Either way I am rather powerlsess to make any significant change for the better other than write a post like this on the internet.

What Authority does, they do not really believe themselves and what they are wanting us to believe they are not fulfilling themselves. What little is being done, is just mere tokenism - just a pandering to the blind masses at our expense.

As I see it presently - until this hypocrytical paradox-in-law is resolved, nothing is going to change for the betterment of the planet.

It's the age old case of "Do as I say and not as I do" - or putting it another way "A law for one and another law for the other".

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Jun 08, 2009
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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(Continued from part 1). the rich companies can buy up carbon trading units so they can pollute more; move overseas stripping us of our jobs (sacking hundreds of good Australian workers at a minutes notice) where the company becomes exempt from changes in the Australian law and meanwhile gains more profits at our expense for their shareholders; and our Government (both State & Federal, including the Military and essential services) can still have the use of all the banned substances such as Lead, Cadmium and Mercury as they see fit (since they have some exemption from RoHS law); the Government and local Councils can dilly-dally around aurguing about the lack of housing and employment (both issues have become an alltime crisis within the Australian community)--- I see all this as a vast "core issue" that is going unadressed - telling me as "Mr Nobody" that those in control have no idea what they are doing, or I am too "stupid" to understand the way our system functions and the welfare of the planet. Either way I am rather powerlsess to make any significant change for the better other than write a post like this on the internet. What Authority does, they do not really believe themselves and what they are wanting us to believe they are not fulfilling themselves. What little is being done, is just mere tokenism - just a pandering to the blind masses at our expense. As I see it presently - until this hypocrytical paradox-in-law is resolved, nothing is going to change for the betterment of the planet. It's the age old case of "Do as I say and not as I do" - or putting it another way "A law for one and another law for the other".

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Jun 08, 2009
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Part 1 of 2 - Response to Roger's comments and some added comments to my first post.
by: Kimbal

Thanks for posting my initial page - much appreciated.

I totally agree with what you had to say and like the idea of the loan against the house for solar installation. Though I don't want to deviate into other topics I wish to add some points which intertwine with my first post and create a relative negative attitude amongst many in the populace as a whole including myself.

Alas; for good reason I do feel pessimistic that rental assistance may never get implemented, nor any other good idea for that matter; as too much time gets spent on political bickering and pleasing big business for the sake of shares and profits, rather than getting down to the real issues of dealing with the planet's environment and one's quality of life - both life threatening to us as a species.

There is not even a basic agreement amongst scientists about global warming as to whether it is man made, or natural.

The implementation of carbon trading legislation now allows a way out for the rich companies to have the legal right to pollute as they see fit, whilst the poor have to abide by the law; unless they become pennalised. This in turn will be fueled by shareholders greed for more profits and the stock market.

While I as a "Mr Nobody" has to replace my small 60 watt light bulb with an energy efficient device (and maybe even change the light fitting to make the damn thing fit properly) as it will soon be illegal to buy and sell the old style incandescent lights in the near future anyway; plus similtaneously battle with higher energy costs because my local electricity supplier is loosing profits to those converting to alternatives like Solar hence having to pay many out for supplying power back to the grid; and also I am unable to use or dump anything that fails to qualify under new RoHS legistlation -
I have to do all this while;-

(Refer to part 2)

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Jun 08, 2009
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Submitted by: Kimbal

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Thanks for posting my initial page - much appreciated. I totally agree with what you had to say and like the idea of the loan against the house for solar installation. Though I don't want to deviate into other topics I wish to add some points which intertwine with my first post and create a relative negative attitude amongst many in the populace as a whole including myself. Alas; for good reason I do feel pessimistic that rental assistance may never get implemented, nor any other good idea for that matter; as too much time gets spent on political bickering and pleasing big business for the sake of shares and profits, rather than getting down to the real issues of dealing with the planet's environment and one's quality of life - both life threatening to us as a species. There is not even a basic agreement amongst scientists about global warming as to whether it is man made, or natural. The implementation of carbon trading legislation now allows a way out for the rich companies to have the legal right to pollute as they see fit, whilst the poor have to abide by the law; unless they become pennalised. This in turn will be fueled by shareholders greed for more profits and the stock market. While I as a "Mr Nobody" has to replace my small 60 watt light bulb with an energy efficient device (and maybe even change the light fitting to make the damn thing fit properly) as it will soon be illegal to buy and sell the old style incandescent lights in the near future anyway; plus similtaneously battle with higher energy costs because my local electricity supplier is loosing profits to those converting to alternatives like Solar hence having to pay many out for supplying power back to the grid; and also I am unable to use or dump anything that fails to qualify under new RoHS legistlation - I have to do all this while;- (Refer to part 2)

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Jun 08, 2009
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rental issues need to be addressed
by: Roger

I agree with your comments about rental properties and the need for incentives to add solar to these premises. In some US states they have a system where a loan can be taken out and is attached to the house so that if you sell the property, the loan goes with the house.

As for the business about licensing to become an accredited installer, that's an appalling state of affairs. I can only suggest you contact your local MP and try causing a stir that way. It is certainly difficult when the union is of no help or is even working in the same direction as the Government. It seems this is also happening in the education sector.

I'm personally sick of the reactive way politicians run the country. It seems that few if any decisions are made on the basis of what needs to be done. Most are made on the basis of either what's best for them and their mates, or what will get them the most popularity points.

I have no problem with certain dangerous substances being banned if they are indeed unsafe, but wider effects need to be considered such as the application of those substances, in this case in renewable energy.

The government should be leading the way, pushing toward a clean energy society and not pandering to mining companies and denying that pollution is a problem that stems from this. They could be building factories to make cheap solar panels that are more affordable to ordinary folk, they could mandate that solar installations are required on rental properties, they could build better public transport, the list just goes on and on.

Roger.

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Jun 08, 2009
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Submitted by: Roger

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I agree with your comments about rental properties and the need for incentives to add solar to these premises. In some US states they have a system where a loan can be taken out and is attached to the house so that if you sell the property, the loan goes with the house. As for the business about licensing to become an accredited installer, that's an appalling state of affairs. I can only suggest you contact your local MP and try causing a stir that way. It is certainly difficult when the union is of no help or is even working in the same direction as the Government. It seems this is also happening in the education sector. I'm personally sick of the reactive way politicians run the country. It seems that few if any decisions are made on the basis of what needs to be done. Most are made on the basis of either what's best for them and their mates, or what will get them the most popularity points. I have no problem with certain dangerous substances being banned if they are indeed unsafe, but wider effects need to be considered such as the application of those substances, in this case in renewable energy. The government should be leading the way, pushing toward a clean energy society and not pandering to mining companies and denying that pollution is a problem that stems from this. They could be building factories to make cheap solar panels that are more affordable to ordinary folk, they could mandate that solar installations are required on rental properties, they could build better public transport, the list just goes on and on. Roger.

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What options do renters have who are on Mains Grid Power and want to go Solar?

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What options do renters have who are on Mains Grid Power and want to go Solar?