What amazes me here is the amount of Solar energy, energy efficiency, and recycling that is mandatory. Most houses have solar panels and/or solar thermal systems. All of the newer houses have PV systems. We are looking to build a new house and I am absolutely drooling over the Geo-thermal/PV/ST/Passiv-haus options I have. So, when Putin starts WWIII and there's gas and fuels shortages, my house will be powered by Planet Earth and sunshine! Imagine the possibilities in the USA if people didn't feel it was their God-given right to waste so much energy...
This is the town we live in. Wald. Literally translated, it is the German word for "Forest" or "Woods". How appropriate that I would live here, huh? Hiking trails, bike paths, bathing lakes, all within close proximity of this beautiful little hamlet. Check out the picture above. Note the solar arrays. This is a prime example of a country at higher latitudes producing more then a THIRD of its energy needs with Solar. The US needs to take notice. Those who doubt that Solar and other renewables are reliable energy alternatives because of articles like this...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/07/08/germanys-solar-industry-is-imploding/
...take it form me: Just because some solar companies in the world's leading Solar Energy producing country have gone out of business doesn't mean the industry is imploding. It means the weaker competition can't keep up with the healthier companies. That's capitalism. And signs of a healthy economy.
All new construction here comes with the wiring, central inverter and hookups for PV. The forced air HVAC systems come with a Solar Thermal system on the roof...standard. Those are not signs of an imploding economy. Its a sign that conserving energy to reduce what you need and produce what you can is replacing the take-make-waste ways of the past.
