# Going Solar: The 21st Century Family Home Project

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/04/going-solar-the-21st-century-family-home-project/
- Published: 2019-04-07T17:44:42-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

![The copelands home solar project Photo creative energies](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.
com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/copeland-solar.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1 "Going 
Solar: The 21st Century Family Home Project - The Green Living Guy")

The Copelands home solar project Photo Creative Energies

**_By Holly Copeland, conservation scientist at The Nature Conservancy_**

**300 pounds**: That’s how much coal was _not_ burned in a distant power plant in
December as a result of the [solar panels](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/05/examining-the-pros-and-cons-of-home-solar-power/)
we installed on our house in Wyoming this fall.

Being December, it was our lowest monthly generation period, with low sun angles
and periodic snow covering our panels.

**An astonishing 1000 pounds of coal** is burned to provide electricity for a typical
US household per month.

Research shows that people most often take action on the environment based on a 
direct experience (Kollmuss and Agyeman 2002). In the case of [climate change](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/climate-change-the-time-for-action-is-now/),
ocean water isn’t lapping at our front door, nor did a [hurricane](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/01/hurricanes-bring-more-destruction-with-water/)
recently flood our house.

Nor will we ever face these threats on the wind-swept plains of Wyoming.

But the health of the environment and our love of [wildlife](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/09/tips-for-inviting-more-wildlife-into-your-backyard/)
and open spaces is something that we care deeply about and also what drew us to 
settle here many years ago.

**Home Solar Amidst an Energy Boom**

**Living in one of the epicenters fueling America’s energy boom** has been a wake-
up call.

In conclusion, for the past 15 years, we’ve watched the slow unraveling of the sagebrush
ecosystem. So natural gas and [oil extraction](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/03/in-attack-on-electric-vehicle-policies-oil-industry-funded-groups-distort-the-truth/)
causing declines in species like sage-grouse and mule deer. All depend on these 
systems (Naugle et al. 2011, Sawyer et al. 2013).

Finally and for the entire story, please visit the Nature Conservancy

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641?
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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

 [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/) [  ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/)