Love that song. But my wife says that the preacher is mistaken - if it's cold out, her attendance is down. :)
I'd love to put up a solar grid and wind turbine. anyone got $50K it might take?
Posted by idiosynchronic at December 30, 2007 07:46 AMFortune favors the prepared mind.
"Many people get entranced by RE technologies—solar-electric (photovoltaic; PV) modules, and microhydro and wind turbines. But the first focus of anyone wanting to invest in RE should be conservation and efficiency."
Getting Started by Phil Livingston, Home Power Magazine http://www.homepower.com/basics/started/
Shrink that load your RE system supports to the absolute minimum you, your friends and any vender can achieve. You won't be sorry.
Meanwhile, that 10 grand burning a hole in your pocket can get you this:
"Joe Schwartz and Richard Perez design a battery and inverter backup power system for carrying you through pesky periods of utility ineptitude. The perfect beginnings of a renewable energy system."
Let the Midnight Special Shine Its Light On Me...Blackout Protection for Your On-Grid Home by Joe Schwartz, Richard Perrez, Home Power, Aug/Sep 2001 (#84)http://www.homepower.com/article/?file=HP84_pg34_Schwartz
Home Power's a great source for everything RE and their schematic diagrams are to die. Get it online, subscribe, liberry or bookstores.
Article also available for cheap charlies free here:
Blackout Protection for Your On-Grid Home by Joseph Schwartz & Richard Perez, Home Power #84, August/September 2001
http://www.ay-solar.us/BlackoutBusterHP84.pdf
Thanks, Mary, for a good post on an important subject. BTW, solar domestic hot water & space heat have better ROI than photovoltaics, but a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do. Good luck whatever you decide.
Posted by Pvt. Keepout at December 30, 2007 09:52 AMMARY, We're delighted for those who can take advantage of solar power technologies, but there is also a subtle lesson here. The global climate is actually a great chain of micro-climates.
I live here on the edge of a rain-forest, we don't get enough annual sunlight hours to make solar power solutions at all practical. But with all that rain there are a lot of running streams, rivers, etc, so hydro electric has been our obvious choice. Big dam projects in the past. Now small scale in-stream generators, tidal/wave action generators, wind projects, etc.
Basic lesson is to think locally: technologies that might be appropriate in Arizona probably have little application in my area, and visa versa. Essentially we have to understand our immediate environments, the opportunities and constraints, and act accordingly.
That said, the Nanotech printing process represents a great breakthrough in lowering production costs of panels, and I'm happy for those who will be able to take advantage.
Cheers
Posted by Allen / Vancouver at December 30, 2007 09:12 PM