We’ve hit the most interesting part of our walk thus far at Fitch’s Point, where we met Peter Libre and his family. For the past five years, they have been living in an energy efficient home which produces electricity with solar panels. Without amenities like AC and a clothes drier, the family of six consumes less electricity than they produce. With the surplus, Libre said he can plug in an electric car and run it for 10,000 miles.
Kathleen noticed Libre because he was using a rotary push mower. “I haven’t seen one of those since I was a kid,” K exclaimed. Lo and behold there were chickens too. Libre lives on the water because he loves to sail and kayak but he lives on a small carbon footprint because he said that health, the environment and the economy are all intertwined. The eye surgeon happily gave us a tour of his house as well as a taste of his blackberries and snap peas.
What has the experience taught him?
“That consuming more doesn’t make you happier.”
