🚀 go-pugleaf

On 07 Jun 2000 10:35:53 EDT, "D.A.Kopf" <dak@dakx.com> wrote:

>Greig Ebeling wrote:
>> 
>> On 06 Jun 2000 10:20:06 EDT, "D.A.Kopf" <dak@dakx.com> wrote:
>> 
>> >[New thread since References line becoming too long for my news mailer]
>> >
>> >Murray Love wrote in message I0%_4.7705$F9.266005@news1.gvcl1.bc.home.com...
>> ><snip>
>> >>
>> >> Thoughtful post, ant.  Thank you for being civil.  As an aside, I don't see
>> >> the attraction of decentralized power.  I like my huge utility; it never
>> >> goes out on me, it's cheap, and if there's a problem I know who's
>> >> responsible.  This is a genuine question:  what is the attraction of
>> >> decentralization?
>> >
>> >Possibly it's too cheap, in that people can use unnecessary electricity
>> >without realizing the hidden consequences. Particularly in the workplace when
>> >they don't see the electric bill. I've known people using electric heaters
>> >under their desk because the air conditioning was set too cold! You'd probably
>> >reduce consumption if you had to do your own maintenance, or if your local
>> >plant made less noise and smelly emissions whenever you switched off a load.
>> >In my experience most of this reduction is effortless - turning off lights,
>> >replacing most-used lights with fluorescents, using battery-powered or wind-up
>> >clocks, plugging wall warts and always-on appliances into switchable outlets, > >etc.
>> 
>> These actions may be effortless, but they do almost nothing to reduce
>> electricity load.
>
>I average 12KWH a day, down from about 30 KWH pre-PV system. 

That is a handy saving!

>Computer monitor
>and lights are now turned off when not in use.Replacing 3 100 watt bulbs with
>15 watt fluorescents saved 1 KWH/day (and gives better light). Switchable
>outlets on the TV, computer, microwave, and coffemaker another 0.5 KWH/day. As
>you say, not noticeable on the power meters at the nuke plant [I like to think
>of it as around 70 gallons a day less water vaporized up the cooling tower,
>others might wish to think in pounds of CO2]. But from what I observe,
>everyone using these same techniques in the workplace would save considerably more.

Your savings still amount to a small amount of power overall, not the
18KWh you state above.  Your solar system appears to cover about 50%
of your needs, which is a very good figure from my experience.

>> >
>> >A substantial tax on grid power might also lead to usage reductions. Here in
>> >the US half the pump price of gasoline goes to tax monies which typically by
>> >law can only be used for transportation. If something similar were done with
>> >an electricity tax the revenue could stimulate all forms of energy research.
>> 
>> An energy research tax, to be used in pollution remediation for
>> instance, is an excellent idea, but cannot be uni-laterally
>> implemented - it has an instant negative effect on the local economy.
>
>Yes, but the same could have been said for gasoline taxes, and nonetheless
>they have been successfully implemented.

Good point.  I'm not saying it is impossible, just difficult to
implement.

>> >There is also the self-sufficiency factor; where I live a major hurricane or
>> >ice storm will will pass through every few years and typically cut grid power
>> >for 1-2 weeks. For me, having power during those times more than makes up for
>> >several years of PV system maintenance.
>> 
>> This is a good reason to have a backup diesel or petrol generator, but
>> why would you spend all that money trickle charge systems and
>> batteries?
>
>Just one KWH marine battery, allows adequate lights plus running the TV or
>computer up to five hours overnight. 

That is all I used on my yacht for those applications.  But what about
the other 11kWh your house consumes?

>Most loads (computer, water pumping,
>washing machine) can be shifted to run directly off the PV panels when the sun
>is shining. 

What if it isn't shining?

>The portable generator is noisy and hard on the back, and now no
>longer needed since the battery-inverter system could be charged from the car
>or tractor as a last resort. 

What about heating and cooking?  Boiling hot water, and making toast?
These are the applications which consume 90% of your power, and you
haven't even mentioned them.

>Interesting to consider that electric vehicles
>might supply much of the home's power, with appropriate docking. Rather than
>charge them at home, charge them in the parking lot at work (using
>cogeneration or PV) and bring the power back home every night. A future
>employment perk?

So somebody else pays for your power?  Cool.  But I'm not holding my
breath on the prospect.


...Greig