🚀 go-pugleaf

Steve Spence wrote:

> If you are running all that electric power as you described, you are either
> an idiot, or you have cheap electric. typical household energy use in New
> Jersey, with Natural gas being used for stove, heat, and DHW, is 600-900
> KWH/month, depending on month. AT.10/kwh, this isn't too bad (someone who
> was all electric, per your scenario, said they were using almost 3000
> KWH/month), but becomes unreasonable when you try to supply it yourself. A
> renewables acquaintance , who is off grid, says he uses about 38KWH/month.
> WOW, that's implementing some serious conservation. Just because you have
> 200 amp service, doesn't mean Joe average uses it all.

My parents were pretty average, and had a pump (not deep well), welder,
electric hot water heater, central air, electric range, and a TV that was
always on.

My own last month's bill was for 1036 KwH.

The scenario described was certainly an unusual peak usage.  But it could
happen.  Why should we have to put up with giving up something, when the power
company can do the same thing and average out the peaks for us?  I mean, just
because I might be using a welder, my neighbors might not be, and might not
also be watering the lawn with 240 V. deep well pump, etc.


>
> BTW, if the A/C is running, why aren't you drying your clothes on the line,
> instead of wasting electric on the dryer?

Its hot, but its also raining...

DPH

> --
> Steve Spence
> Renewable Energy Pages - http://www.webconx.com
> Palm Pilot Pages - http://www.webconx.com/palm
> X10 Home Automation - http://www.webconx.com/x10
> sspence@webconx.com
> (212) 894-3704 x3154 - voicemail/fax
> If we don't believe in freedom of speech
> for people who we disagree with, we don't believe in it at all.
> --
>
> "DPH" <rally2xs@compuserve.com> wrote in message
> news:3936406C.2C10949E@compuserve.com...
> > ant wrote:
> >
> > > why build huge centralized power plants when you can cover each house
> with
> > > solar cells, pop a redox storage battery on the corner and bob's your
> > > auntie, cellular power grid.
> >
> > Standard power service is 200 amps / 240 volts nowdays.
> >
> > I want to see you pay for, and have room for, 48 KW worth of power,
> available
> > 24 - 7, in continuous streams that don't rely on batteries that are being
> > discharged faster than the solar can recharge them.  Pretend the air
> > conditioner is running, the homeowner is watering the lawn with the 240
> volt
> > deep well pump located 400 feet below the surface, and may be building
> > something involving his arc welder.  Meanwhile his wife is preparing
> dinner on
> > the 240 volt electric range while the clothes are drying in the 240 volt
> > electric dryer.  And the electric hot water heater is still in its cycle
> from
> > the showers everyone took eariler.
> >
> > That's a lot more than 48KW of solar cells, and a _lot_ of expensive
> batteries.
> >
> > Better to have solar farms built by, and battery-backed up by, the power
> > companies and distributed so we don't all have to become electrical
> engineers
> > to deal with our power needs.
> >
> > DPH
> >