[XCSSA] Solar and Green events in SA

[xcssa@xcssa.org]

>
> I would love to hear something like this.. AFAICT, going to a full  
> blown PV
> system with batteries and inverters (or an "off grid" setup) just  
> isn't
> feasible in a region where power is ~6cents/kWh.  CA.. or NE sure..  
> but not
> here.

It's still feasible if you have enough money to burn.  You just have  
to pay more in the forseeable future.  The main upside is in your  
conscience.  Also, you might be better prepared for an uncertain  
future.  In some cities like Austin they give a generous subsidy  
(something like 50%), assuming grid connection.

Alternatively, you can pay a little bit extra (currently 3 cents per  
kWh) for Windtricity, and know that your electricity is coming from  
wind power.  I've been a Windtricity subscriber since the beginning,  
but recently upped my participation to nearly 100% of my electric  
usage (depending on A/C usage).  With this approach, there is no long  
term contract or maintenance responsibility on your part, and you can  
change your participation at any time.  One phone call and you're  
in.  You can also buy "Renewable Energy Credits" from various  
companies nationwide, which have the same effect.  Then you are  
subsidizing wind power somewhere in the country, even if not in your  
own hometown.  REC's are typically cheaper than Windtricity.   Every  
new renewable energy generator is depending on REC participation to  
help make it feasible.

>
> I would love to go solar/PV... But at around $15-18k.. and a 15  
> year break
> even point (with at least a couple $5k battery upgrades in there  
> too).. I
> just don't see how PV can really "Take off" in the SA area..  
> (unless you
> maybe just go battery-less and just pump the power back onto the  
> grid during
> daylight and use the grid for extra need and night time power).

Going PV with grid connection is probably the most popular approach  
in areas where people have a grid.  Far cheaper and easier and just  
as good, if not better, for the planet.  No energy lost to battery  
inefficiency, and the extra power is likely used very close to home,  
like your neighbor whether they know it or not.

I met one guy who lives in a remote area and uses the battery  
approach.  IIRC, this guy runs everything off a 80W (!) PV with  
battery.  He doesn't use 115V lights anymore.  He uses only 1 12V  
light at a time.  He has a gas powered refrigerator and no A/C.

Conscience or not, the biggest thing everyone can do is save energy  
by using more efficient appliances and other approaches.  Then you  
can save money while you're saving the planet.  For example, higher  
efficiency A/C systems, programmable thermostats, compact fluorescent  
bulbs, etc.

Efficiency can make a big difference.  It's been said that 80% of the  
expected growth in electrical demand for the next 15 years could be  
met by improvements in efficiency.

Efficiency means using less power while maintaining the same quality  
of life.  Then there's also "conservation" which means cutting back  
on things you can do without.

I'd like to get better at putting my computers into "suspend" mode  
and back.  My B/W Mac tends to have video card problems when I do  
that.  I'd like to get my Windoze box (which serves as my Sonos  
jukebox) on ethernet startup.  Or possibly with a network drive I  
wouldn't need the computer at all.

One friend of mine thinks he's going to get a big efficiency gain  
from replacing the power supply in his computer with a more efficient  
version (which he just ordered).  He thinks that because his computer  
now has a "500W" power supply it is constantly using 500W whether the  
computer needs that much power or not.  I do not think even the OEM  
supplies are that bad.

Charles