Comments on: A solar epiphany http://greencouple.com/2008/06/25/a-solar-epiphany/ Learning to live green and live together Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:34:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Energy detective | GreenCouple.com http://greencouple.com/2008/06/25/a-solar-epiphany/#comment-1835 Energy detective | GreenCouple.com Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00:18 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=253#comment-1835 [...] since I learned that a 3 kWh a day lifestyle is achievable, I’ve been very curious as to our current usage. Since everything we [...] [...] since I learned that a 3 kWh a day lifestyle is achievable, I’ve been very curious as to our current usage. Since everything we [...]

]]> By: Creating an electrical budget | GreenCouple.com http://greencouple.com/2008/06/25/a-solar-epiphany/#comment-1658 Creating an electrical budget | GreenCouple.com Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:19:31 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=253#comment-1658 [...] tearing things apart to do some electrical baselining (that’s a word, right?). I’ve complained before about how difficult it is to figure out where our electricity is going. Starting from scratch gives us a unique chance to do just [...] [...] tearing things apart to do some electrical baselining (that’s a word, right?). I’ve complained before about how difficult it is to figure out where our electricity is going. Starting from scratch gives us a unique chance to do just [...]

]]> By: Andy http://greencouple.com/2008/06/25/a-solar-epiphany/#comment-1361 Andy Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:10:31 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=253#comment-1361 It's hard wired here too, I flip the switch in the breaker box which I can access easily though. Forgot about geothermal! oops. There are so many solutions isn't it wonderful? It’s hard wired here too, I flip the switch in the breaker box which I can access easily though.

Forgot about geothermal! oops. There are so many solutions isn’t it wonderful?

]]> By: Will http://greencouple.com/2008/06/25/a-solar-epiphany/#comment-1358 Will Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:35:36 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=253#comment-1358 Good point about PV, Andy. Here in IN, I think the most practical heating/cooling technology is a geothermal heat pump, especially with the state rebates. Once we have this house, it's something we'll look into more closely. Congrats on your company's launch! I look forward to hearing how it goes now that you're public! Yeah, we're looking forward to being able to do things like turn off the water heater (it's hard-wired here)! Good point about PV, Andy. Here in IN, I think the most practical heating/cooling technology is a geothermal heat pump, especially with the state rebates. Once we have this house, it’s something we’ll look into more closely.

Congrats on your company’s launch! I look forward to hearing how it goes now that you’re public!

Yeah, we’re looking forward to being able to do things like turn off the water heater (it’s hard-wired here)!

]]> By: Andy http://greencouple.com/2008/06/25/a-solar-epiphany/#comment-1348 Andy Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:11:21 +0000 http://greencouple.com/?p=253#comment-1348 Ha, I'm glad you had an epiphany! Let me tell you about a few other things... Photovoltaics are actually a lot less efficient in terms of money spent for non-renewable resources saved than many other steps you can take. Depending on the house, there are many renovations (especially with attic space) that can make heating and cooling much less energy hogging. Solar thermal water preheaters are four times more efficient than photovoltaics by the price. Depending on how much hot water you use, and if you make a solar shower anyway, this would be something to consider. I know many states have great rebates for about half the cost, and you can check the dsire website to find details. www.findsolar.com is a great resource for pricing systems for either solar type for specific locations too. Using less energy should always be the first step though! My first electric bill came to 6kWh/day average for the two of us, which apparently is 18% of the NY average. I still thought that was a lot, but this apartment has electric everything. I think one of our major energy savers is leaving the water heater off, and then using it for about 45 minutes will give enough hot water for 2 showers and then we turn it off again. Otherwise the thing is making water hot even if we aren't using it! So using less water doesn't help much if we still heated it. I'm trying to catch up on blogs... my company just launched Wednesday and it has been amazingly hectic! One member called me yesterday and said I was in a short video clip which was played on nation CNN coverage the other day! Good luck on closing on the house. No matter which green steps you run with, I think you'll find that having a place that is yours will make all of those much much much easier to accomplish! -Andy Ha, I’m glad you had an epiphany! Let me tell you about a few other things…
Photovoltaics are actually a lot less efficient in terms of money spent for non-renewable resources saved than many other steps you can take. Depending on the house, there are many renovations (especially with attic space) that can make heating and cooling much less energy hogging.
Solar thermal water preheaters are four times more efficient than photovoltaics by the price. Depending on how much hot water you use, and if you make a solar shower anyway, this would be something to consider. I know many states have great rebates for about half the cost, and you can check the dsire website to find details. http://www.findsolar.com is a great resource for pricing systems for either solar type for specific locations too.
Using less energy should always be the first step though! My first electric bill came to 6kWh/day average for the two of us, which apparently is 18% of the NY average. I still thought that was a lot, but this apartment has electric everything. I think one of our major energy savers is leaving the water heater off, and then using it for about 45 minutes will give enough hot water for 2 showers and then we turn it off again. Otherwise the thing is making water hot even if we aren’t using it! So using less water doesn’t help much if we still heated it.

I’m trying to catch up on blogs… my company just launched Wednesday and it has been amazingly hectic! One member called me yesterday and said I was in a short video clip which was played on nation CNN coverage the other day!

Good luck on closing on the house. No matter which green steps you run with, I think you’ll find that having a place that is yours will make all of those much much much easier to accomplish!

-Andy

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