ecoelectrify

joined 1 year ago
[–] ecoelectrify@slrpnk.net 1 points 10 months ago

I appreciate the sentiment here, but it is a little too individualistic. Time and time again, social movements have succeeded through mutual aid and solidarity. Just focusing on your own life is great, but you need to consider the fact that, ahem, we live in a society. Even if everyone in your community suddenly lived like you describe, there would still be the looming threats of climate change and biodiversity collapse, not to mention the exploitation of workers overseas (which very well may be producing the rare metals in your DIY solar panels).

I digress. Living a solarpunk life can take many forms. "The role of the revolutionist" is manifold. Its silly to suggest that a person's life can be a model of an alternative, when we are so intertwined and connected with other human beings and environments. Direct action and organizing against state tyranny, fossil capitalism, environmental racism and other damaging systems is solarpunk. Especially if you are doing those things and still have time to grow a garden.

Again, going vegan is great. But just because you "assert your beliefs" at the dinner table doesn't mean you are somehow doing revolutionary work. Movements have the power to change things, not individuals. Lets be real.

[–] ecoelectrify@slrpnk.net 2 points 10 months ago

agreed, it is a fantastic website. I wish there were more like it.

I ordered their paperback magazine, which can be printed on demand. Looking forward to reading it

[–] ecoelectrify@slrpnk.net 1 points 11 months ago

Yep this makes sense to me, I agree. Especially if those vast areas are far from large manufacturing facilities of these efficient panels (likely), less complex and DIY panels produced on site would reduce transportation costs. It would just be a matter of locating materials in those regions.

[–] ecoelectrify@slrpnk.net 4 points 11 months ago

Such a good idea, love this

 

Solar panels have always bothered me because they require such intense manufacturing and usage of scarce resources. TLDR of article: "Many people will argue that if low-tech solar panels are less efficient, we would need more solar panels to produce the same power output. Consequently, the resources saved by low-tech production methods would be compensated by the extra resources to build more solar panels. However, efficiency is only crucial when we take energy demand for granted, sacrificing some efficiency may gain us a lot in sustainability."

[–] ecoelectrify@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Anyone want to make a non-paywall version? Would be much appreciated