Choose Energy Wisely

Crossroads

Say hello to Lia, her world will be very different to what we have now by the time she is an adult. Oil for power is reaching the end of its economic life, and right now we stand at the crossroads of our civilization.

Will we continue to be chained to the traditional sources of energy, or will we make the move, before time runs out, to alternatives? Ulrich (Lia’s father), was not prepared to sit around and has set up, at this beautiful site, a template for change.

Look out and up the hill. Can you see the blue car? This all-electric vehicle is capable of 100 kilometres travel without re-charging. Easy you say? Look to the right and see the bank of photo-electric cells that produce enough power to supply the national grid as well as provide for the household.

That is not all by any means…the shed behind the car houses a plant to provide enough bio-diesel to keep three vehicles running, at a cost less than a third that of bought fuel. Now swing through 180 degrees, look down onto the roof of the main house and see the banks of evacuated tubes fixed to provide solar energy for the household’s hot water, separate to the electricity generation. Four different sources of energy, all utilized by lateral thinking.

Are we at the crossroads? Of course we are. Will we do anything about it? Yes (no choice), but when? That is where most of us stand, thinking, undecided, about which route to take.

Australia - New Zealand / New Zealand

Lat: 36° 49' 20" S
Long: 174° 31' 50" E

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: Unknown / Undeclared.

Canon 5D plus 15m fisheye
Manfrotto tripod and pan head
Photomatix 3.2, Photoshop CS2, PTGui 8.3