Monday, April 21, 2014

Solar Eclipse

From Album 5
Just what we DON'T need, and as a solar energy user...to comment more than I normally do, my system, which, yes, was financed in large part by tax credits, was never meant to drain resources, take from other customers, or to be a  full swap from the existing fossil and nuclear based grid. But it IS a start, and every little bit helps. The system is almost fully paid for, provides anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of my consumption, depending on the season, and I'd encourage everyone to at least consider a renewable option. Thinking tribally is not an option in the modern world...
Posted by Michael at 7:27 PM

9 comments:

  1. charlie ehlen11:06 AM

    Michael,
    I am a huge fan/proponent of solar and most renewable energy. Back around 1980, Chaffey Community College in Rancho Cucagomga, Calif. offered classes in solar energy. They even offered an Associate of Science degree in it. My wife and I took the basic class together, something we'd planned to do once we found a class we both were interested in. I went on and got my two year degree and even at that time was impressed by the possibilities. Yes, much has changed, for the better in my opinion. New processes have made photovoltaic cheaper to buy and easier, some what, to produce. Of course no product is energy neutral and it takes a good bit of energy to make any solar device or any other green energy product. Still, using renewable energy products can cut the green house gas emissions and that is a good thing for all life on this planet.
    I do think the tax credits are useful and needed as the price of going to solar electric is still high. A solar water heater is the cheapest form of solar and a good one can be home built with items from say Home Depot/Lowes. You do need good exposure to the South at your site for any solar device to work to its best.
    There are many other ways to increase the efficiency of your home heating and cooling that are rather low cost. Just proper planning of your home landscaping for one. Where you plant trees in your yard is a good example. You want maximum shade in summer, but little shade in winter. Cheap and easy use of free solar power.
    Of course as solar and other alternative energy devices gets cheaper for the consumer and more people begin to see the benefits of using such, the vested interests of fossil fuels will complain like all hell. Their ox is being gored and they don't like it. It cuts into their already obscene profits and they will stomp their little feet and throw their temper tantrums to no end. Well, too bad, we switch to less polluting energy or we all die a slow, miserable death, even the very rich. They do live on this same planet with us "commoners" after all.
    Just my opinion, others may vary.
    cheers and good for you and your solar set up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Michael7:31 PM

    FYI, I've got a solar/gas water heater to go with the PV system. The same company installed both. PV is 2.1Kw, the best I've seen it was just over 1.9, which isn't bad. I've got good southern exposure on a gabled roof so the panels are about as good as you'll get with a stationary array.

    The heater is actually a closed loop glycol (supposedly non-toxic, and damn, I hope so...and really just hope no leaks), anyway, it's a closed loop circulating system with a heat exchange just before water enters the tank. To be honest, I view it more as a gas water heater with a solar boost than a solar heater with gas backup. A couple of times the pilot's gone out...and the water isn't that warm. So it goes.

    It's STILL a damn good investment, and considering the subsidies fossil fuel producers get (cash, sweetheart deals, I assume some liability waivers for fouling water, and that's just what I know), anyway, pretty much ANY modern technology gets some sort of government boost, and that's a good thing, especially considering we're still at least nominally self-governing.

    You're also right about landscaping and other actions you can take to increase energy efficiency...and again, no reason we shouldn't have some sort of incentive to do that stuff...well, except that big oil, big coal, big nuclear (is there any other kind of nuclear?) wants increased consumption...even at the cost of seeing it all go up in flames. Ugh.

    Sort of on the same subject -- if you have a chance, this Chris Hayes article is...wow

    http://www.thenation.com/article/179461/new-abolitionism

    Hayes tends towards hopefulness -- well, he's relatively young...but...

    Take it easy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Michael7:33 PM

    Oh, one more thing: the cat is a great judge of passive solar...in the winter he follows the sun through the windows to find the warmest spot to lie down. It's funny to watch, but also kind of neat to see him do his thing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. charlie ehlen7:48 AM

    Michael,
    I still have a paperback book, the title if I remember correctly, yes too lazy this early in the day for me to hunt through the bookcases (yes more than one) to find it. I believe it is "Solar Cat"
    wait, I'll go check it and give you the correct title, I owe you thank courtesy for allowing me to rant on your blog. Hold on while I go and find it.........
    OK, found it; "The Solar Cat Book" by Jim Augustyn with illustrations by Hildy Paige Burns.The copyright date is 1979 put out by Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. It is a cute, yet interesting book. Might be available at a good library, or, it may still be possible for a nice librarian to check other libraries to get you a copy for loan. I have not looked at Amazon to see if they may have a copy for sale. On the back cover, the price was, Hold on for this, a 96 page paperback book sold for...........$3.95 US.

    ReplyDelete
  5. charlie ehlen7:48 AM

    Michael,
    I still have a paperback book, the title if I remember correctly, yes too lazy this early in the day for me to hunt through the bookcases (yes more than one) to find it. I believe it is "Solar Cat"
    wait, I'll go check it and give you the correct title, I owe you thank courtesy for allowing me to rant on your blog. Hold on while I go and find it.........
    OK, found it; "The Solar Cat Book" by Jim Augustyn with illustrations by Hildy Paige Burns.The copyright date is 1979 put out by Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. It is a cute, yet interesting book. Might be available at a good library, or, it may still be possible for a nice librarian to check other libraries to get you a copy for loan. I have not looked at Amazon to see if they may have a copy for sale. On the back cover, the price was, Hold on for this, a 96 page paperback book sold for...........$3.95 US.

    ReplyDelete
  6. charlie ehlen7:48 AM

    Michael,
    I still have a paperback book, the title if I remember correctly, yes too lazy this early in the day for me to hunt through the bookcases (yes more than one) to find it. I believe it is "Solar Cat"
    wait, I'll go check it and give you the correct title, I owe you thank courtesy for allowing me to rant on your blog. Hold on while I go and find it.........
    OK, found it; "The Solar Cat Book" by Jim Augustyn with illustrations by Hildy Paige Burns.The copyright date is 1979 put out by Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. It is a cute, yet interesting book. Might be available at a good library, or, it may still be possible for a nice librarian to check other libraries to get you a copy for loan. I have not looked at Amazon to see if they may have a copy for sale. On the back cover, the price was, Hold on for this, a 96 page paperback book sold for...........$3.95 US.

    ReplyDelete
  7. charlie ehlen7:48 AM

    Michael,
    I still have a paperback book, the title if I remember correctly, yes too lazy this early in the day for me to hunt through the bookcases (yes more than one) to find it. I believe it is "Solar Cat"
    wait, I'll go check it and give you the correct title, I owe you thank courtesy for allowing me to rant on your blog. Hold on while I go and find it.........
    OK, found it; "The Solar Cat Book" by Jim Augustyn with illustrations by Hildy Paige Burns.The copyright date is 1979 put out by Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. It is a cute, yet interesting book. Might be available at a good library, or, it may still be possible for a nice librarian to check other libraries to get you a copy for loan. I have not looked at Amazon to see if they may have a copy for sale. On the back cover, the price was, Hold on for this, a 96 page paperback book sold for...........$3.95 US.

    ReplyDelete
  8. charlie ehlen7:48 AM

    Michael,
    I still have a paperback book, the title if I remember correctly, yes too lazy this early in the day for me to hunt through the bookcases (yes more than one) to find it. I believe it is "Solar Cat"
    wait, I'll go check it and give you the correct title, I owe you thank courtesy for allowing me to rant on your blog. Hold on while I go and find it.........
    OK, found it; "The Solar Cat Book" by Jim Augustyn with illustrations by Hildy Paige Burns.The copyright date is 1979 put out by Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. It is a cute, yet interesting book. Might be available at a good library, or, it may still be possible for a nice librarian to check other libraries to get you a copy for loan. I have not looked at Amazon to see if they may have a copy for sale. On the back cover, the price was, Hold on for this, a 96 page paperback book sold for...........$3.95 US.

    ReplyDelete
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