With the unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, the coal mine explosion in West Virginia, and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, not to mention the Middle East in turmoil (no pun intended), it makes you wonder: Isn’t there a cleaner, safer and more reliable way to produce our energy? Do we really need to be putting ourselves in constant catastrophic danger or continue to line the pockets of foreign countries?

And why go so far? Here in the Five Towns, we are limited. The only source of electricity is LIPA, a traditional provider that uses, for the most part, traditional energy sources. Did you know LIPA owns 18 percent interest in the Nine Mile nuclear power plant and buys power from various on- and off-island suppliers that use a combination of gas, nuclear and oil as their main source of production?

Also, LIPA’s rates are among the highest in the country and are expected to continue to increase each year. If it feels like a monopoly, you’re right — but there is a way out!

Let’s change this picture around and move from gloomy gray to bright yellow. The sun can make you smile in more ways then you realize. Did you know that enough sun rays fall to the earth’s surface every minute to meet the world’s energy demands for an entire year! Why not collect some of those rays and convert them into electricity to power your home and business?

You can be reassured that this is one of earth’s natural resources that will not deplete, and as far as I’m being told — the sun is expected to stick around for at least another 4.5 billion years. So no worries ... collect away! You may not be able to shop around for electricity, but you can produce it yourself, and it’s easy!

Yes, it’s that simple — and practical! Alternate energy resources are not pie-in-the-sky, they are reasonable and affordable and will enable you to free yourself from a tradition you may not be so happy with.  Allow me to simply explain how solar works:

• The sun beams shine down on solar panels that sit on your roof, preferably facing south with little to no shade and ideally at a 30 degree angle.
• The panels absorb the sunlight beams (photons) and convert them into a direct electrical current.
• The electrons flow out of the panels and into a small box called an inverter. This box functions as the brains of your system and converts the DC current into AC current, which is what your TV, dishwasher, computer and all other appliances around your house need in order to run.
• If you produce more electricity then you need, the excess goes back into the grid and now LIPA owes you money! If it’s a rainy day and you need more power then you can produce, your home is still connected to the power lines so you won’t miss a beat (your favorite TV show will keep playing no matter what, I promise!).

Isn’t it interesting how a little sunshine can turn a depressing scenario into sheer bliss? Of course, we should give LIPA some credit here, too, as they also understand the power of the sun and are encouraging you to go solar to the tune of up to $17,500 in rebates.

So remember, when the sun spills over and radiates plumes of heat, we just call it a beach day! Enjoy that sun … make it work for you and help rid us of those dirty dangers.

To find out more, you are welcome to visit www.EcoOutfitters.net or send me your questions and I will help you understand the specifics of the financial and environmental savings of solar, and get you connected with qualified Long Island installers.

Happy sunshiny days to all!