PV Gap

Calvin Said:

where can a disabled homeowner (I own the home outright) with a credit score less than 580 get an equity loan?

We Answered:

Wrong time wrong situation.

My advice to you is to sit tight and try again in 6 months and then again in 12 months.

The environment that gave you the opportunity to get such a great deal on the house is also going to make it very difficult for you to get a loan.

The marketplace for alt-a (good credit, unusual terms/situations) and sub-prime mortgages (poor to bad credit) doesn't really exist at the moment. Your best bet is a credit union, but with a score below 650 I doubt you are going to find any legitimate lenders at this time.

Carlos Said:

Any ideas for a home-based Animal oriented business?

We Answered:

what a great idea........you would probably have to find a way to accept public donations to support yourself and business. good luck

Felicia Said:

Why does society still think that a 4 year college education is a good deal? I see students clamoring for?

We Answered:

Whilst I agree with some of what you say I don't agree with some of your assumptions.

There are a lot of people already changing the way they live (Browse Permaculture and Transition Towns) they are planning for energy decent. The oil crisis is a crisis of consumption. As oil prices increase, as tar sands become more difficult to process, the price of oil will increase, but so will the incentive for people to work and live in different ways. It will not happen overnight, but if it does then there is still a lot of hope (browse How Cuba Survived Peak Oil) as Cuba showed us in the Special Period.

We will not lose the technology nor skills we already have, products will be redesigned and advances will be made quickly so that less materials and energy are used. Skills are transferable and the problems will be world wide so the world markets will be very competitive in finding solutions.

We won't be going back to the Stone Age, we will be going forward, with a new way of thinking, a recognition of how foolish we have been in the past and a much greater need for a well educated population. When there are shortages, the price mechanism ensures that people train to fit those gaps and take advantages of higher wages. The rise in green jobs and technologies is rapid. The gap between the richest and poorest societies is shocking. I agree that there will be some adjustments, lets hope our shift in thinking helps to close that rich/poor gap in the process.

Donna Said:

why dont they biuld selfsufficient houses?

We Answered:

Mr. Obvious is partially right !.... but in my opinion most people like the idea but when it comes to the crunch.... it's all too much bother....cost.... inconvenience...limitting.... etc.

To be self sufficient... in housing...
All houses to have a wind generator would require to be in moderate wind regions....or no power....
The logics are to have comunity power generation....
All houses to have self sufficiency in water and waste management... would require to be on moderately sized land areas, to allow collection and recycling of water...( quite involved )... also most regions do not have sufficient rainfall to supply the demand for individual house needs... and people are unwilling to compromise...
Look at your last summer water bill.... each kilolitre of water you used, needs storeage.... calculate the usage for one month... did you use less than 20 kilolitres on average? .. then you are in the minority.... The storeage of 20 kiloliters of water is in most cases the average large rainwater tank that is installed to collect roof water.....if you can afford to buy and install this tank, and provide enough electric power to run the pump required...and then are fortunate enough to have sufficient rain fall to fill the tank...............you use it up in one month...and if no more continuing rain......empty tank....
This not to mention the facts of cost....
Rainwater tank........$2,500
Installation, level, base, plumbing, electrics, etc, ...... $1,500
This minimal cost of $4,000 ...... all to collect $20 worth of water, to be only available for at the best.... 3months of the year...... at that rate it might take forever to claim this cost back, not to mention the upkeep and replacement costs along the way......... get the idea!!!!!
Untill solar panels are produced at a rate and efficiency to be a economical option..... the average home owner is not likely to be able to go in this direction......
The only viable option one has if they can afford it is to incorporate a underground water tank in their design of their new home.....this tank would have to be at least a half a megalitre..... ( 500,000 litres).....to make use of total yearly rain fall........ would say at least $60,000 to $100,000 per new home aditional cost.....
Would You Pay For The Extra Costs???????
The answer is to move out of cities (crowded ) and retreat to the country areas and B U I L D your own self sufficient HOUSE.... but make sure you have a deep pocket, plenty of energy and be prepared to make sacrifices.... plenty of sacrifices...
Later, Jim ( Contract Builder for 34 years )
also self sufficient, farmer, electrician, recluse.