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Living with Ed follows Ed Begley, Jr., and his wife, Rachelle, as they green their home, family, and celebrity friends. But if you've ever wondered what kind of advice they'd give the rest of us, then the Ask Ed forum is your chance to find out. Readers submit questions and comments about the show, green living, etc., and Ed chimes in with his green answers; here, we've rounded up some highlights of the past week.
Q. I have a pool with ozonation purification. I still need a small amount of chlorine, but it is a fraction of what a typical pool would use. Depending on the season, I need to run the 11 Amp pump for 8-12 hours per day to keep it clean. This costs $100-150 every month and uses a lot of electricity. I've tried running it for less, but I get algae in the water. Maybe someday I can turn the algae into bio-diesel, but for now I'd rather keep my water clear without adding more toxic chemicals. Can solar be used to power my pump?
A. You could certainly install a small solar array to power just your pool pump. Try www.realgoods.com - they sell small systems that would be perfect for such an application.
Ed
Q. I was watching the show the other day and it was the one where [you] had put up a 400w wind genny. I was curious as to how it is working out so far.
A. Josh - that turbine is gone now. It did not perform to my expectations. I have a new one coming next month called the MagWind. You can see it at www.enviro-energies.com. I'm hopeful this will be the roof mount solution I've been looking for. Many VAWT folks will talk about 'low wind capability' and 'low wind start up speeds', but don't be fooled...wind turbines take wind. If you don't have 10 to 15 mph at a minimum, don't expect to make power. The MagWind has a design that takes advantage of dirty wind coming up the side of the house or building - that makes me hopeful that it will work better in a roof application.
Ed
Q. I happen to believe that you are a perfect example of an "eco investor," putting your money to work in what you believe in. But for those that have very little money (if any left) to invest or don't have enough education, would you invest with friends in the form of a club?
I sincerely believe our movement will slide in the wrong direction if we don't invest.
A. I certainly believe in green investing. I am always looking out for companies that are doing exciting things in the green space. Battery technology has been one thing I've looked at recently. As far as HOW you choose to invest, it's important to have good advice - so whether its an investment expert or a club, make sure you are investing with experts that have a good track record.
Ed
More about Ed Begley, Jr.
Living With Ed
The TreeHugger Interview: Ed Begley, Jr.
Ed Begley, Jr., on Air Conditioning, Insulation, and the Cost of Going Green
