They would never take the credit, but Peter and Margaret Foster are Bermudian pioneers when it comes to the subject of renewable energy ? particularly solar power.

At their Paget home they have solar thermal and Photo Voltaic (PV) panels on the roof, sending power to their main house and two apartments.

They also use the sun to heat the water in their home.

It makes them fairly self-sufficient for energy needs and less reliant on the Bermuda Electric Light Company?s (Belco) carbon emission power plant.

This one-person-makes-a-difference environmental idealism has lasted almost as long as they?ve been together.

They were married in 1988 and the first solar panel entered their lives in 1989.

By now they hoped there would be more Bermudians following their lead.

They even opened a renewable energy business to ride the country?s wave of environmentalism.

But the business failed because the environmentalism wave never hit Bermuda.

That?s why they think it?s time for some spirited Government leadership to push people away from fuel based power generation and toward environmentally friendly renewable energy ? power sources that don?t send harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

Peter Foster said: ?Governments have to take the lead and say ?this has to happen!?.?

Mr. Foster applies this argument to leaders in every county, especially Bermuda, where he thinks an incentives plan could start a community movement towards renewable energy.

He said: ?People won?t do it because it costs money, but if there was an incentive to do it then it?s a different ballgame.

?Bill Clinton came up with a million roof initiative when he was President ? a million roofs with solar panels on them ? and he gave tax credits and things to make it happen.?

The Government does provide one incentive for people looking toward a renewable future.

Bermudians can import Photo Voltaic panels into the Island at zero percent duty.

But the panels don?t work alone ? you?ll still have to pay the 22.25 percent duty on the storage batteries, motors, and whatever else is needed to turn the power of the sun into power for you home.

More incentives would be particularly welcomed in Bermuda because importing solar panels is incredibly expensive.

Solar devices are very fragile and require pricey handling when they?re shipped. In some cases the shipping costs more than the panel itself.

Like her husband, Margaret Foster believes incentives are a great start in terms of Government leadership.

She also thinks there?s a true opportunity when it comes to the affordable housing which the current Government has been working on for a long time. She?d like to see solar energy systems retrofitted into the low income housing that already exists or built into future units which are expected in the coming months. Mrs. Foster said: ?If every unit of Government housing had solar power, they (the tenants) would have economic energy. And those are the folks that need it most.?

Solar power installation requires a real commitment from homeowners.

The Fosters had to buy a special solar tank, a pump, a controller, copper piping, and insulation ? not to mention the cost of labour.

If you?re starting from scratch, $7,000 might be a reasonable estimate, according to the Fosters. Eventually though the energy savings return on the initial investment.

The first summer the Fosters had their solar system up and running in 1990, they saved about $90 on the monthly bill.

They figure that savings to be worth about $150 per month now at today?s Belco rates.