Howdy... can renewable be a buiness?

I've been reading posts in this and other related groups for the past few months.
I joined this group simply because I have decided to figure out a way to get out from under the thumb of the oil companies. Then I got to thinking, maybe other people are sick of the oil industry too.
So, I'm seriously considering starting a small business trying to sell affordable solar space heaters and water heaters. Does anyone have any ideas on if this is plausible?
My intent is to be able to provide basic systems that have a low payback period, and to just go for the simple stuff for now. Most of what I've seen is a 8-9 year payback. I think it can be paid back sooner. What do you all think?
What are the biggest drawbacks to going into this type of business? What are the things that have worked for other peope? What certifications and so on are required or good to have?
Regards, Hrv

hrvspooner@aol.com wrote:

I've been reading posts in this and other related groups for the past few months.
I joined this group simply because I have decided to figure out a way to get out from under the thumb of the oil companies. Then I got to thinking, maybe other people are sick of the oil industry too.

Ya think? ;-).

So, I'm seriously considering starting a small business trying to sell affordable solar space heaters and water heaters. Does anyone have any ideas on if this is plausible?

Depending on where you are. Basically, you need to be able to offer your clients something that the internet cannot. Sales alone won't cut it.
Renewable energy businesses can be a good career choice, or an absolutely horrible one. It all depends on the people running it.
DJ

wrote in message

I've been reading posts in this and other related groups for the past few months.
I joined this group simply because I have decided to figure out a way to get out from under the thumb of the oil companies. Then I got to thinking, maybe other people are sick of the oil industry too.

It makes no sense to me that most of our energy comes from people in countries who mostly hate us.

So, I'm seriously considering starting a small business trying to sell affordable solar space heaters and water heaters. Does anyone have any ideas on if this is plausible?

It's as plausible as you make it. If you can't find an existing design that fills a viable market, you might have to either improve the design to make it more convenient and affordable, or find the right market for what exists.
I think the biggest hurdle with alternate energy is that it's not usually so easy as flipping a switch and getting the trouble-free, steady performance we're used to from non-renewable sources. My own experience with alternate energy involved a good deal of fiddling, sacrificing a measure of convenience and a fair bit of expense. I think it was worth it, but the average consumer wants none of this.
The winners in this race will be the ones who do the best job of delivering a cheap and convenient alternative to what we have now.

On 2 Feb 2006 07:38:03 -0800, "hrvspooner@aol.com" wrote:

I've been reading posts in this and other related groups for the past few months.
I joined this group simply because I have decided to figure out a way to get out from under the thumb of the oil companies. Then I got to thinking, maybe other people are sick of the oil industry too.
So, I'm seriously considering starting a small business trying to sell affordable solar space heaters and water heaters. Does anyone have any ideas on if this is plausible?
My intent is to be able to provide basic systems that have a low payback period, and to just go for the simple stuff for now. Most of what I've seen is a 8-9 year payback. I think it can be paid back sooner. What do you all think?
What are the biggest drawbacks to going into this type of business? What are the things that have worked for other peope? What certifications and so on are required or good to have?
The old joke in the solar energy business is:

Question: How do you make a small fortune in solar energy?
Answer: Start with a large fortune.
Seems to have been proven true over the years.

Regards, Hrv

Bill Kaszeta Photovoltaic Resources Int'l Tempe Arizona USA bill@pvri-removethis.biz

Bill Kaszeta / Photovoltaic Resources wrote:

On 2 Feb 2006 07:38:03 -0800, "hrvspooner@aol.com" wrote:
I've been reading posts in this and other related groups for the past few months.
I joined this group simply because I have decided to figure out a way to get out from under the thumb of the oil companies. Then I got to thinking, maybe other people are sick of the oil industry too.
So, I'm seriously considering starting a small business trying to sell affordable solar space heaters and water heaters. Does anyone have any ideas on if this is plausible?
My intent is to be able to provide basic systems that have a low payback period, and to just go for the simple stuff for now. Most of what I've seen is a 8-9 year payback. I think it can be paid back sooner. What do you all think?
What are the biggest drawbacks to going into this type of business? What are the things that have worked for other peope? What certifications and so on are required or good to have?
The old joke in the solar energy business is:
Question: How do you make a small fortune in solar energy?
Answer: Start with a large fortune.
Seems to have been proven true over the years.
Regards, Hrv
Bill Kaszeta Photovoltaic Resources Int'l Tempe Arizona USA bill@pvri-removethis.biz

Ha! Not exactly what I was hoping for. Funny, though.
Photovoltaics huh? You probably have a lot more experience than I at this point. Especially in AZ.
Thanks for the humor.
Regards, Hrv

Bill Kaszeta / Photovoltaic Resources wrote:
The old joke in the solar energy business is:
Question: How do you make a small fortune in solar energy?
Answer: Start with a large fortune.
Seems to have been proven true over the years.

Why is there a lack of renewable nrg businesses? What is your plan to solve that? Unless you can answer that, you'll likely go the same way as the rest of them.
NT