Just say no to FPL

Kaizer Talib in Fort Lauderdale is trying to do just that. His home will be powered either through Solar energy or wind power.

After 11 days without power after Wilma, I'd love to do the same. The only problems being- The Homeowners Association and TFM's mechanical ability. See I'm much better at breaking than fixing things. LOL.

Linked to- Bright & Early, TMH's Bacon Bits,

They are called ''zero energy'' or ''off the grid'' -- homes that are free of local utilities. And architect Kaizer Talib wants his Fort Lauderdale home to join them.

Solar roof panels heat his water. Fiberglass tiles along his sea wall will heat his pool.

Solar electric panels are planned to provide energy for another 50 to 60 percent of his house, powering tasks like cooking, washing and drying.

SERIOUS INTENTIONS

And a 55-foot-tall windmill would go in front of his home. Talib hopes to sell any extra power generated back to FPL at half price, he said.

''Our goal is to produce all the energy for the home and then some,'' Talib said.

Talib's home, which he designed, is built around two ideas -- saving energy and doing as little harm to the environment as possible.

An extra layer of concrete poured around the house provides insulation. The white walls and metal roof reflect light and heat.

The air conditioner is Freon-free and uses up to 40 percent less energy than those with Freon, he said.

The stove uses magnetic fields to heat up metal pots for cooking, but it won't burn a piece of paper.

Talib said he first began looking into such energy sources during the 1973 oil crisis, when oil prices quadrupled and gasoline was rationed. Since then, he has been interested in the topic and designed ''energy conserving'' homes as part of his work as an architect. He recently got his first hybrid car. ''There are a lot of basic methods available around the world,'' said Talib. ``We have explored very little.''

COSTLY UNDERTAKING

More motivation came last year when Hurricane Wilma knocked out his family's power for two weeks. ''Even if I have only 60 percent of my power, it's still better than last year, when I had zero,'' said his wife, Bettina Lambrechts.

Creating such a home can be costly. Installing enough solar panels to power a 2,000-square-foot house would cost about $25,000, Talib said.

But Talib hopes that will change and state leaders will begin offering more incentives for using the new technology. Without financial help, homes like his will continue to be scarce, he said.