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NatureGround >> If every home had solar panels?
| 7/30/06 12:10 AM | |
attjack
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 26631 |
What is every home built in the first world had solar heating systems? How much of a difference would that make in regard to the environment? I'm going to look into solar power and water heating. I could work it into the process of getting a mortgage on a new house.. |
| 7/30/06 12:16 AM | |
TheDougler
467 
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 08/20/2003 Posts: 54407 |
Here in Canada the gov't is giving incentives for people to go off the grid and is even buying power back from people producing it in wind, water, and solar. |
| 7/30/06 12:22 AM | |
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DonnaTroy
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 09/22/2002 Posts: 7842 |
There is a new building in town with solar power. It is enough to warm up all the water of the building. |
| 7/30/06 12:28 AM | |
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OGFiend
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 07/27/2006 Posts: 51 |
We'd probably all burn the house out by leaving our computers on all night while playing gamecube. |
| 7/30/06 12:31 AM | |
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attjack
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 26636 |
You're still hooked into the system. If you have a surplus, they pay you. |
| 7/30/06 12:37 AM | |
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TheDougler
467
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 08/20/2003 Posts: 54409 |
Ooops, attjack is correct. I should have said they encourage you to be self sufficent and will buy back surplus. |
| 7/30/06 12:38 AM | |
Pecker
57
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 03/27/2006 Posts: 1680 |
...then baby Jesus would not cry... |
| 7/30/06 12:44 AM | |
pfsjkd
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 8859 |
I thought about it, and may do it later if I'm sure I'll stay put for a while in the same house. Problem is, it doesn't really increase the value of your home, and it can take a decade or more to get a return on your investment. Cali gives a 39% rebate, I believe, for getting it done. Plus they refund the state sales tax. |
| 7/30/06 12:45 AM | |
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attjack
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 26641 |
I'm afraid that's what I'm going to find out. It's ridiculous that we can't harness the sun or the ocean for power. I can't think of any more obvious sources of power. It has to be a conspiracy. |
| 7/30/06 12:47 AM | |
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attjack
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 26642 |
Isn't there a federal tax credit as well? Or was I thinking that because I'm in California? I'm thinking of doing this in Oregon, maybe even southern Washington. |
| 7/30/06 12:55 AM | |
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TheDougler
467
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 08/20/2003 Posts: 54412 |
My step father has his house up north off the grid. He does have a generator but has recently installed solar panels and a windmill which he runs into a set of deep cycle batteries and then converts into his needs. He adds more solar panels as he gets money and he also will probably add another windmill. He's on a river and is working on how to add that via some kind of wheel etc. Luckily he has been there a while and plans on being there some time yet so he's getting his money out of the venture. He comes to stay with me every month or so for a week and always wants to do the same here. |
| 7/30/06 1:03 AM | |
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TheDougler
467
Edited: 30-Jul-06 Member Since: 08/20/2003 Posts: 54416 |
Solar panels are great but expensive. So are deep cycle batteries. The converters are cheaper though. What kinda pisses me off is that there are city bylaws that stop wind towers from going up due to height. |
| 9/16/06 1:20 AM | |
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cycklops
143
Edited: 16-Sep-06 Member Since: 04/26/2003 Posts: 2815 |
Just curious. I live in southern CA now, basically in the desert. I moved here from NY. I really thought I'd see solar panels everywhere out here, yet I don't. Any reasons as to why? |
| 12/29/06 4:36 PM | |
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ocianain
Edited: 29-Dec-06 Member Since: 02/05/2006 Posts: 620 |
Solar power and wind power are not viable methods of producing large amounts of cheap energy, neither system has large amounts of energy in them, so you can't get large amounts out. |
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