Darby Strong

Playing point. Delivering the rock.

I Hear the Eco

by


Sun Goddess by Jody Hewgill

In high school, having been exposed to the idea of recycling and Earth Day, I had thoughts of single-handedly changing the world. Now, I face the more daunting task of changing myself, realizing it is truly the only way to change the world.

I start at home. Beaufort County is one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., and with sunshine on our side, I am bewildered by the lack of solar technologies offered to interested consumers. With all of the area’s advertising efforts to highlight the construction industry and its purveyors, I have yet to find a builder, developer, or any such company working to integrate sustainable building techniques and philosophies here in the Lowcountry. Savannah has a few wonderful and interesting programs developing, but Savannah is not Bluffton, and the closest solar panel provider is 2 1/2 hours away. What are the factors keeping a region so rich in resources, including abundant sunshine and wealth, from developing alternative building strategies?

For starters, South Carolina is one of the few states in the nation that does not offer financial incentives or green loan programs to people or businesses wanting to explore alternative energy resources. Without either, solar is still not a cost effective means of generating electricity. So where do we begin, as a community, to effectively implement a shift in thinking about the way we are doing business as usual?

I hope to answer this question, and many more, on Friday while attending a workshop entitled Real Strategies for High Performance Buildings in Savannah. This will be the beginning of a very long but welcome path I intend to walk towards a goal of self-sufficient, earth friendly living. Setting forth an effort to live a sustainable lifestyle using viable, alternative methods and helping to bring them to this community can only increase Mother Earth’s ability to sustain us all.

Comments

  1. I miss the Lowcountry of my childhood. I would play under grand live oaks and pretend the cool ground under the branches was my kingdom. I would soak acorns in a coffee can full of water, when they were swollen and soft, pierce them with one of my grandmothers sewing needles and string them together to make jewelry that when complete would transform me into an ” Edisto Indian Princess”

    My Lowcountry is forever changed with new housing developments and an influx of ” come here’s”
    What makes me love the Lowcountry, is what brings others here. Her beauty is to be shared.
    How we plan for this growth and development is so important.
    Hopefully we can model other communities that have been successful.
    There has to be some sort of financial incentive or tax break for this to be successful. I’m afraid with land and housing cost rising, when faced with the choice of earth friendly energy methods or more closet space in their home many choose the closet space.
    We also have a large rural and under served population in the Lowcountry. These old houses held together with hopes and prayers lack basic
    energy saving improvements. A tube of window caulking from the local Walmart is a simple start.

    I guess a mix of money and education is a good start. I hope to learn from you as walk your path and share your ideas with your readers.

  2. I wrote a paper and did a presentation in 8th grade about solar energy. This was after the big energy crisis of the Carter Administration…the one with long lines to get gas. So it was a fresh way to think…too bad it hasn’t really caught on. I’ve thought about having solar panels on my roof here in Chicago to supplement the power…unfortunately, I don’t make those decisions yet…can you hear me mom? In due time I suppose.