And further proof of how, mainly CA, is destroying the CO river ecosystem, its tributaries and delta.
The Time Has Come .....I've gone solar
- Thread starter Steve williams
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And further proof of how, mainly CA, is destroying the CO river ecosystem, its tributaries and delta.
Owens Lake has been gone for years and is now the biggest cause of dust pollution in the USA.
As an aside WLVCA your solar set up is the largest residential one I’ve ever heard of. Does it allow you to run the AC all the time and still make enough electricity from your grid
Yes, in 3 of 4 years we've gotten a small amount of money credited from Tucson Electric for excess power generated, around $100.00. Last year was very hot here so we ended up paying about $50.00 in one month to the utility because we didn't generate quite enough solar electricity.
Most of the power goes to two air conditioning systems that run around the clock for 5+ months every year plus the pool and pond.
The house was built in 2002 and the original HVAC is still running so not the most efficient by today's standards.
It was dry for many years as the water from the eastern slope of the mountains was diverted to Southern California, creating an environmental disaster. Since 2001 the LA Department of Water and Power was forced to begin restoring water to the lake and it has improved significantly though still not to its original condition.
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-owens-lake-birds-20180425-story.html
I think it important to note that IF you are putting solar on your roof, you should try and budget enough panels for an over abundance of production...and therefore almost always be supplying more than you use. Your expected usage is calculated at the time of the sale by the solar contractor. I had enough panels placed on my roof to supply all of my current needs, plus enough so that IF i wanted to add a EV in the future, it would cover that event as well- and still allow for an excess in production. Even though I do not have an EV at this time. While it isn't usually too hard to add panels in the future, I think it is more economical to have more panels than you need to start with...within reason of course.
Just to get the full sunny picture
, how much do you get paid for each kWh you inject back in the system?I'm not lecturing and there was no personal intent on any of my comments (and you tried to sell me your speakers, don't forget).
I'm just saying energy costs aren't rising 4-6 cents per kWH annually - this is 100% false. You either a) have your terminology wrong or b) have been told incorrectly.
Stepping out of this thread- good luck with your solar project.
Yes I am well aware of their restoration plans but I will believe their hoped for and claimed results when it (doubt it ever will) happens. They are likewise trying to restore some of the Colorado River delta and have turned that into a mess as a result of their well intended plans. They don't and never will get the law of unintended consequences. It is time for CA to get some legitimate water management policy without all the in-fighting among the various different groups, whether it be political, economical and worse yet, geographical all of whom have disparate needs and views.
Not that where I live, in S. FL do they have a realistic water management short term and long term view and plan. In Dade and Broward, all the politicians wants to blame GW when 99.9% of the problems has nothing to do with GW, CO2 or other greenhouse gases but their own moronic building codes/allowances, lack of appropriate drainage, concrete preventing refilling of the water table, destroying the Everglades in the process issues and using the land fill portion of barrier islands for purposes it was never intended and trying to play catch up which has been an environmental and ecological nightmare. The current red tide issues along the west coast is and will continue to be catastrophic, much of which is caused by the issues I raise.
In CA the "solution" is much more difficult but because of the magnitude and cost, it has led to ineptitude and excuses of doing nothing. Here in S. FL we have issues of a different kind that has people paralyzed. In the end, these are the kinds of low hanging fruit I referred to that can be fixed relatively easily, lead to a more healthy environment right now but instead it is easier to blame GW for dumb decisions and ineptitude.
FWIW I posted this earlier.
You were absolutely correct.I should have said 4-6 per cent rise per year.
Steve, maybe I missed it, but is your system up yet....if not, when is your install? This is the perfect time of year to do it, as we get further towards winter, the days get a bit shorter, so you won’t be making quite as much power, OTOH...you probably won’t be running the AC quite as much either.
If I lived where there weren't trees and woods, I would consider solar, but I live in a wooded area and there is no way I would cut down any trees so I could use solar.
I totally agree with this.
But remember, the solar arrays can be mounted in any number of different locations...they do not need to be on one’s roof. Therefore, any clearing that is large enough to support the arrays will be sufficient. The overriding question is whether your area receives enough sun throughout the year.
I have 60-90 foot tall trees all over my property. There is simply no place solar panels can go to get enough sunlight morning to night, especially when you consider how long the shadows are from the autumnal to vernal equinoxes. The mid-day sun would be all I could get.
I learned another interesting fact yesterday from my Solar Company
I was asking them about the production of electricity by my system and whether I should consider a battery should I purchase an EV
Once again I was told that batteries remain expensive and in their opinion was still not ready for prime time
They recommended something totally different. My system will have 30 of the 360 watt panels and based on my use I should be fine for an EV BUT what they advise their clients to do is to have your electrical company insert a second dedicated meter whose sole use would be for charging an EV which they recommended to be done in super off peak times (between midnight and 0600). They told me that almost all electric companies offer super low rates for super off peak charging of an EV and the second meter would determine that cost per month. They strongly encourage against the use of batteries at the present time
I was asking them about the production of electricity by my system and whether I should consider a battery should I purchase an EV
Once again I was told that batteries remain expensive and in their opinion was still not ready for prime time
They recommended something totally different. My system will have 30 of the 360 watt panels and based on my use I should be fine for an EV BUT what they advise their clients to do is to have your electrical company insert a second dedicated meter whose sole use would be for charging an EV which they recommended to be done in super off peak times (between midnight and 0600). They told me that almost all electric companies offer super low rates for super off peak charging of an EV and the second meter would determine that cost per month. They strongly encourage against the use of batteries at the present time
Interesting, but i'm not sure why you would do that. The charge is going to be available to you when you receive your billing from SDG&E. Even with just one meter, you can still see which way the meter is running...either you are supplying to the grid..or taking from it. Late at night is the way to charge the vehicle (12-6)...but in order to accomplish this from a very low state battery you would need a 220 amp connection. Is the additional meter at your expense, or the utility companies? ( for the install and maintenance)
I understand Davey..
they recommended the dedicated meter on the 220 line to be used only for super off peak charging of the EV. I don't know about the cost of the meter but I would assume the user would incur the cost
People owning air bearing turntables should get Flywheel energy storage https://www.elp.com/articles/2016/01/amber-kinetics-signs-flywheel-energy-storage-contract-with-pg-e.html. Perhaps they could use their turntable compressors to feed the bearing of the flywheel!
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