wrote:
On Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:39:40 -0500, Jim wrote:

Maybe someone should start little regional businesses making and
installing something simple like solar water heaters. That would be
good for the workers and good for the environment.
Unfortunately the union plumbers, pipe fitters and boilermakers would
probably shut you down.
Right. The tremendous threat of the evil unions overrunning us here in
Florida - what is it, 5% union membership, third lowest of all states? -
will kill our spirit of entrepreneurship.
That's what killed Frogwatch's outfit.
Right.

This goes beyond the unions but they would be a factor. You also have
all of the other government roadblocks.

If this was a federal project, the unions would be lobbying the hell
out of it and pretty soon it would be so expensive it would fail.
That is the problem with federal solutions.

You still need the feds to shortcut the approval process by creating a
special NRTL just for these projects.

Without federal involvement creating a "Nationally Recognized Testing
Laboratory" to certify these systems you can't install them (virtually
every building department requires listed equipment) and it is OSHA
that certifies a NRTL. That would run you up against U/L et al,
another big lobby.
If you actually did have to submit them to U/L, ETL,TUV (or one of
the few other recognized labs) the process would take years and cost
way up in six figures for each design.
That is not going to help people who need something now and it puts a
chilling pall over innovation.
It also insures only the big boys can play.


I don't want Joe the Plumber or Jimmy Bob Solar getting into my drinking
water.
Be my guest if you do.
You sure can find excuse after excuse not to do something.
This guy had no problem getting the job done.

http://solarroofs.com/news10video.html

According to the site they sell for Florida homes too.

http://solarroofs.com/index.html#customers
Browse at your leisure.

Just don't go looking for Skyline systems so you can report the
homeowner to the authorities trying to prove a point you failed to make.
There's other solar water heater outfits besides that one.
Many.


When you look at this simple idea you start to see how regulation has
killed innovation.
You can find some great ideas for solar water heaters on Mother Earth
News but it is illegal to install one of them unless you live in an
unincorporated area in Idaho where they don't have a building
department.
I guarantee you there is no place in Florida where an unlisted water
heater is legal. Your mileage will vary on how long it would take code
enforcement to hang a red tag on your door.

I sure as hell don't want Joe the Plumber brazing up automobile
radiators for potable water heating systems and poisoning me with lead
and anti-freeze.
If you really cared about American business one obvious argument you
could have made is that all the generous American tax-payer funded
Energy Star and other tax credits only qualify when American-made
equipment is purchased or installed.
That would be progress in job creation.
Nope. You bitched about regulations that keep folks from being poisoned
or electrocuted.
I really think you have a negative attitude.

Jim - Some strive to succeed, others to fail.