to be fair, it’s possible because of net metering. You install a pretty big system and bank a shit ton of credit with the power company in the summer.
also, efficiency goes up in the cold so that helps.
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The Home Improvement Thread. Successes and Failures
- Thread starter joecct
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to be fair, it’s possible because of net metering. You install a pretty big system and bank a shit ton of credit with the power company in the summer.
also, efficiency goes up in the cold so that helps.
Hmmmm - I wonder if that was me? If so, then you're mis-remembering the arguments about solar that I was adamantly making. Solar is just fine for those who have the acreage. My argument (hard, cold , physics-based calculation, really) was focused on the folks who live here:
Where are they (and their 4.3 BILLION urban-dwelling compatriots) supposed to hang their panels? By 2050, the number of urban dwellers will be approaching 7 billion. And that doesn't even get into industrial users of electricity, many of whom are extremely intensive users in relatively small footprints.
Solar (still with the right subsidies, I might add) is just fine on a local scale for rural/surburban folk whose rooflines afford them enough properly oriented surface area to collect their own. Have at it - enjoy! But let's not pretend that solar will solve our global electricity demand.
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The Sicatoka
Kicizapi Cetan
If you mean me, I stand by prior statements: Wind and solar make sense but only after large scale energy storage catches up. And I mean large scale, and notice I don't say "battery" because some really interesting new energy storage tech is coming about.
Side note: I ran the numbers to take my house off the grid. I based my assumptions on Prairie Sun Solar data (representative of what I'd get for solar) as it is reasonably near where I'm at. I assumed five cloudy days and one sunny (data supports that worst case). I'd need panels to do six days of usage (that day's usage and charge five day's worth) and batteries for five day's usage. I'd need almost two acres for the panels and batteries and house. Better batteries would cut that down some, but I still need the panel space.
unofan
Well-known member
Yeah, but that simply shows why trying to cut yourself off of the grid is stupid, not that solar power is bad.
Trying to run your own gas/coal generation facility to power your home year round would be similarly unfeasible.
The Sicatoka
Kicizapi Cetan
Net metering hurts the power distribution company unless they have a high monthly connection charge and a low energy rate. (Think: Cell phone. You really don't pay per minute, you pay a monthly fee to have the phone and be connected. The power distribution company needs to go to a model like that to pay for their infrastructure to keep you connected to the grid if your state allows net metering.)
With net metering you pay X for each kWh in and get paid that same X for each out. Seems fair to you. But, you're using the power distribution company's infrastructure to deliver your energy.
Net billing is more reasonable: When you buy you buy at retail, when you produce you sell at wholesale. All energy sellers are equal wholesalers and the power distribution company just becomes a wheeler of energy.
All that said, most homeowners produce excess (sell) when the grid doesn't need it (off peak demand times). So now the power company is forced to buy energy that is not in demand at the time, and that forces the power distribution company to raise rates.
The Sicatoka
Kicizapi Cetan
Nothing you say is wrong. But nearly two acres of panels is not appealing.
Deutsche Gopher Fan
Registered User
Def not as aesthetically beautiful as say, an oil field!
St. Clown
Ideas Posted are Likely Not My Own
There’s no inventory of houses for sale, but demand for houses is still there. Last week there were fewer houses for sale than realtors. I’m not sure if that’s ever happened before the current situation.
if you’re able to sell and rent for a few months to a year, you might find some great gains if the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic relents.
Deutsche Gopher Fan
Registered User
If I could easily find somewhere to rent, I’d move to sell my house. I think it would go for between 550-590 right now, well over what I paid and I could get nearly 300k of equity out
The Sicatoka
Kicizapi Cetan
I assume you account for surface land usage as you make that assessment. Me, I'd rather see one well head in four square miles (Bakken field average) than some of the solar monstrosities being done. Beauty is in the eye ...
The Sicatoka
Kicizapi Cetan
Plywood has gone 6x! Yow-zah.
The plants I know that make pre-fab building components (roof trusses and walls) have all switched their design software from "production" to "usage" (meaning not fast but get the most used material per raw board or sheet).
unofan
Well-known member
I disagree adamantly with most of this which are almost all industry talking points from the utilities that I've heard numerous times before, but I don't have time to rebut them point by point.
unofan
Well-known member
Nor is a clear cut mountaintop or a sinkhole caused by coal mines.
This is what my plans were in the fall and I'm still thinking of selling in the next 2-6 months. Two units in my building each sold in less than a week for more money than what I was originally asking. Since I took my place off the market, I've paid $10K additional towards the principal, replace my hot water heater, washer and dryer. I have a few other home improvement projects in mind. That being said, rents for places where I want to live are super high. The rent for the apartment I had hoped to move to last fall was pretty much a wash with what I'm paying for mortgage and condo fee, which is what I'm hoping for. I'm not ruling out going back to them if I make the decision to sell. Seems like now is the time to put it on the market to get as much for it as I can.
I am still hearing from several realtors questioning whether I put this place on the market again. I was thinking of calling three of them to interview them, see what their thoughts were on what I would need to do to sell and how much they think I could get for it.
Homeowners produce the most during sunny days in the summer when air conditioners are cranking and California is having rolling blackouts
Is peak demand really during the night? I find that hard to believe now. Lighting is a tiny percentage of my electricity usage. Lots of businesses are closed at night. Why is peak not during the day when everyone's working, everything's open, and it's hot out?
dxmnkd316
Lucia Apologist
It's an interesting question. I'm guessing peak is right around 3-7. When recovery mode kicks on after the houses have coasted all day. That said, this has been flipped on its head since we're all at home all day now.
The Sicatoka
Kicizapi Cetan
There is no panacea. Everything has pros and cons.
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