Weekend Plans
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Next house will be propane to start, but I'm going to build it so I can add an alternative fuel source if need be. If we get the house were looking at it will be stripped to the studs anyway and we'll be able to insulate the hell out of it.
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@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
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@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
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@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
We keep looking at it for here in Texas since there is current roof damage to be addressed anyway.
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
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@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
How much did they cost, roughly? Here in Texas I assume we would recoup the cost even more quickly.
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@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
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@scottalanmiller said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
How much did they cost, roughly? Here in Texas I assume we would recoup the cost even more quickly.
I'm not remembering off the top of my head. I want to say 25K.
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
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@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
I was wondering if you could do that. Very nice.
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
They've got non-lead batteries for that now, too.
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@scottalanmiller said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
I was wondering if you could do that. Very nice.
Utilities in NY are required to allow it.
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@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
Ok, so he's converting from DC to AC and simply connecting to the grid. At any given time he could be using his current solar output against his draw. If he uses more (by the month) he pays. If not, does he get a credit? Depends on the arrangement with the local provider.
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@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@scottalanmiller said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
I was wondering if you could do that. Very nice.
Utilities in NY are required to allow it.
Nice
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
Ok, so he's converting from DC to AC and simply connecting to the grid. At any given time he could be using his current solar output against his draw. If he uses more (by the month) he pays. If not, does he get a credit? Depends on the arrangement with the local provider.
Yeah, so very simple, but does not address going "off grip" or using it to replace having a generator.
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
Ok, so he's converting from DC to AC and simply connecting to the grid. At any given time he could be using his current solar output against his draw. If he uses more (by the month) he pays. If not, does he get a credit? Depends on the arrangement with the local provider.
Utilities in NY are required to pay you for the energy you produce. He used to have 300$ bills. He's averaged 16$ the past 5 months. He's had a few months where he didn't use as much as he produced and received a credit on his bill.
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@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
Ok, so he's converting from DC to AC and simply connecting to the grid. At any given time he could be using his current solar output against his draw. If he uses more (by the month) he pays. If not, does he get a credit? Depends on the arrangement with the local provider.
Utilities in NY are required to pay you for the energy you produce. He used to have 300$ bills. He's averaged 16$ the past 5 months.
That's pretty cool. When I calculated it, it was more for off-grid and that was about 2010. I know battery tech has changed drastically since then, so I would bet you can get much better batteries (but likely a lot higher cost) now.
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
Ok, so he's converting from DC to AC and simply connecting to the grid. At any given time he could be using his current solar output against his draw. If he uses more (by the month) he pays. If not, does he get a credit? Depends on the arrangement with the local provider.
Utilities in NY are required to pay you for the energy you produce. He used to have 300$ bills. He's averaged 16$ the past 5 months.
That's pretty cool. When I calculated it, it was more for off-grid and that was about 2010. I know battery tech has changed drastically since then, so I would bet you can get much better batteries (but likely a lot higher cost) now.
Yep, offgrid isn't really an option for him, he's got a carpentry and machine shop in his garage so he needs power when he needs.
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@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@art_of_shred said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver said in Weekend Plans:
@JaredBusch said in Weekend Plans:
@coliver If I was to build a house, it would have radiant heat in the floors. I would power it with natural gas since it would take too much electric if I tried to use solar. Maybe an electric heater from solar only with gas backup.
Yep, radiant will be what we put in. No question there. Our electric up here is pretty expensive and solar isn't as effective as other parts of the country. Although with modern solar cells you can get pretty decent savings if you're piping it back into the grid.
Every time I've looked into solar, the ongoing maintenance was enough to all but cancel out the "savings", so I never went that direction.
Really? What kind of solar were you looking at? My uncle just put a 4 solar panels in his backyard. Break even date I think was 5-6 years out. The installation included ongoing maintenance.
Including the replacement of a lead-acid battery array every few years?
Nope, he's wired directly to the grid and just spins the meter back.
Ok, so he's converting from DC to AC and simply connecting to the grid. At any given time he could be using his current solar output against his draw. If he uses more (by the month) he pays. If not, does he get a credit? Depends on the arrangement with the local provider.
Utilities in NY are required to pay you for the energy you produce. He used to have 300$ bills. He's averaged 16$ the past 5 months.
That's pretty cool. When I calculated it, it was more for off-grid and that was about 2010. I know battery tech has changed drastically since then, so I would bet you can get much better batteries (but likely a lot higher cost) now.
Solar is cheaper, too. So the whole equation gets better and better.
