OT/ solarize

[Lowredranger]

Sounds like you are on your way to getting off the grid. I think if everyone had solar on there roofs we wouldn't need new powerplants, the power companies should just put panels on everyones roof and we can pay them monthly for that instead. May not save us as much money but at least we would be going green.

How do you like the tint on the windows? I like to be able to look out of my windows and see the outside so i am not sure if that upgrade will be in the future for us.

 

[dugg]

The tint is fine during the day. You can see out just fine, just can't see in from outside. I am not tinting the front door so that i can still be able to see who is at the door before opening it even at night. If it cuts my energy costs down, i'm all over it though. I am sick of paying as much to power my home as i am for my house payment. I know my kids are sleeping in better in the mornings, and that alone is worth the price of the tint with a 2 and 3 year old waking up at the crack of dawn lol. It is supposed to be one of the biggest power saving things you can do without a large investment besides changing your light bulbs out to compact flouresent. I checked on the progress energy site last night, and by changing all of my lights to the CF bulbs, it shows over $500 a year in savings over standard bulbs.

 

[dugg]

Oh yeah they can keep thier solar panels from the power company. I am more than happy to invest in my own. The whole point is to be free of them. I couldn't see paying them monthly for power that is free from the sun anyway. It will only take about 5 years at current power rates to pay for the panels if i only install enough to power my home. I intend to install 50% more then i need and become my own power plant that can forcably sell power to them like they do to me now.

I do agree that if everyone that has the ability to do so were to put in the panels, they wouldn't need to buid more plants, and would greatly benefit the enviroment.

 

[dugg]

Last month i used 2576 KWH on my last bill. I just went out and read my meter, and i have only used 924 KWH for the month, and they read the meter this friday . I call that a pretty big savings considering i had 2 weeks on this month before the water heater was installed WooHoo . GOOD BYE PROGRESS

 

[jay24k]

I can't imagine water heating would account for 60% of your total electric bill. I've read that the average is about 15%. With how cool the weather is, it could be the lack of A/C usage. I would compare some of your costs throughout the next few months. Your utility company can show you the comparisons.

 

[dugg]

It's also the new heatpump, CF lights and weather stipping i have installed, but that is how much i cut my costs this month alone. After i get an average on my new power usage, then i will be able to determine just how many solar panels i will have to buy to power the entire house. Even though it has been cool this last month, i am very cold natured, and keep my thermostat set at 79*, so the heatpump has been kicking at a good pace lol. I keep it det that high in the summer too, and the new A/c unit is far more effecient than the 1985 model POS i replaced, so i don't expect to see near as high of bills this summer either. Also hot water counts for 30 to 35% of your electric costs, not 15%.

 

[smpolyp]

Great! Just think about the co2 you are going to reduce.
My victory was getting an instant hotwater unit. Cost was just over $700 for the unit and electric wiring. Savings from the switch I saw each month about $30 consistant. Pays for itself in about 2 years. If the electricity cost go up it saves me even more. Ooh it did go up. Now it's pays for itself under 2 years.

 

[dugg]

It's gonna take me more like 4 years maybe a little more to pay me back for what i have spent so far, but at least i am paying for something besides power coming through a wire now. I have spent almost 10k in the last month but i have cut my bill by over 50% already, and haven't even had a full month bill with everything on it yet. My cheapest bill since i have been in this house has been $225. My bill this month will be under $200 and there was 6 days before the heatpump was installed, and over 2 weeks before the solar hot water went in. I'm expecting a huge decrease next month and for many months to come. Before they know it they will be paying me every month instead of shoving a $400 bill down my throat.

 

[dugg]

As far as the co2 footprint goes, i got a footprint fot progress energy but it ain't carbon lol. It is nice to know i am helping the economy and the enviroment too though.

 

[dugg]

My bill droped from $412 last month to $187 this month, and there were 6 days before any improvements, and only 2 weeks of solar hot water on this bill. The last bill was also for 29 days and this one was 33 days . My credit card payment only went up $140 a month for the upgrades.

 

[dugg]

Here is a link for how to build a small solar power generator to power you tank during outages for under $300.
http://www.rain.org/~philfear/how2solar.html