tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6787157690355329112.post5070429364364637541..comments2024-03-13T08:03:38.906-07:00Comments on Frugal Freedom: Solar DreamsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6787157690355329112.post-91747165244309003342010-03-12T19:49:45.281-07:002010-03-12T19:49:45.281-07:00Over the Cubicle, my boss is very into the end of ...Over the Cubicle, my boss is very into the end of civilization theories. I wanted to try black pipe for my hot water in the mobile but I didn't have the money for it. My next house will have if for sure.Daizyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08075279944974601962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6787157690355329112.post-48577258825084286322010-03-12T15:19:45.986-07:002010-03-12T15:19:45.986-07:00If you do hook to the power grid, you don't ne...If you do hook to the power grid, you don't need all of the batteries to store the solar power. Excess just goes out to the grid, and you pull from the grid when your panels don't produce enough for your demand.<br /><br />Not too good for any kind of end of civilization (and it's power grid) scenario, but I don't believe those anyway, so it is definitely to cheaper solar option of the two.<br /><br />Cheaper yet are passive solar things like black water tanks or pipe networks on the roof for hot water, a sun room positioned for optimum heating, etc.Over the Cubicle Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04842722161649016062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6787157690355329112.post-79965599620537018452010-03-11T20:25:47.044-07:002010-03-11T20:25:47.044-07:00Why do you have to switch your appliances? Don...Why do you have to switch your appliances? Don't they have inverters to switch to AC? We have the buy back option if you accept the power company's subsidy. I didn't ask my boss if he did it. Probably not. He likes to be independent and doesn't need the money.Daizyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08075279944974601962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6787157690355329112.post-42764773429738906022010-03-11T12:02:37.243-07:002010-03-11T12:02:37.243-07:00I'm interested in solar too and am still kind ...I'm interested in solar too and am still kind of in the research phase--hah! I don't even own a home yet. <br /><br />But I live in France and I learned something very strange recently: here you can get your 20,000 euro solar panels with a tax write off (ok, not so weird) BUT then you are forced to sell your solar energy to the monopoly energy company--they pay you six times the normal cost and you end up earning about 2,000 euros a year--it's a 20 year contract, so you end up making all of your investment back and then some.<br /><br />But how weird is it that you cannot legally go off grid with this technique? Unless you shift all your appliances over to a voltage different than everyone else. Crazy.<br /><br />By the way, if I were you, I'd totally watch over your boss's experience so that when you do get solar panels you'll know some of the in's and outs.Simple in Francehttp://www.simplelifeinfrance.com/noreply@blogger.com