[ausev] Solar panels

[John Allen]

My wife and I are currently in the design process of a strawbale house and
barn in Dripping Springs.  In addition to the strawbale we'll have grid tied
solar, solar water heating, and rainwater harvesting for all of our water
needs.  We plan to use reclaimed lumber as much as possible.
The architect has built several other strawbale houses in the area
(including his own) and don't need air conditioning or heat for more than a
few days each year, thanks to the thermal mass of the building.  The site
plan has the house situated to take advantage of the southern breezes.    

When we get started I'll let you know.  We're planning to have several
workshops on Straw bale construction.


John

-----Original Message-----
From: ausev-bounces at austinev.org [mailto:ausev-bounces at austinev.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Frandsen
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 10:27 PM
To: AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion
Subject: Re: [ausev] Solar panels

You might also check our own Hill Country Ecobuilders,
http://www.hcecobuilders.com 
   Lloyd Lee and friends have built a net zero house out on Fitzhugh  
Road that uses geo thermal for cooling and heating and it also  
supplies the hot water during the A/C days. House includes 6KW of  
solar panels as well to get to net zero energy usage.

Chris Frandsen

On Mar 3, 2009, at 3:22 PM, John Allen wrote:

> Since you all seem to be interested in geothermal heat pumps and  
> solar,
> check out this website http://www.danshomeenergyproject.com/   got  
> this from
> a friend on the ASES mail list.
> Dan lives near San Antonio and his projects have been featured on  
> Discovery
> channel.    He's attempted or installed most of what you're  
> contemplating.
> He assembled his solar arrays and is using some energy from them to  
> also
> pump water for the heat pump and solar water heater.
>
> John
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ausev-bounces at austinev.org [mailto:ausev-bounces at austinev.org]  
> On
> Behalf Of Brian Lasseter
> Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 2:37 PM
> To: AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion
> Subject: Re: [ausev] Solar panels
>
> On Tue, Mar 3, 2009 at 9:17 AM, Josh Handel <jhandel at ktomics.net>  
> wrote:
>> Oh one thing to note is you can keep adding on to your solar system  
>> each
>> year.. so you can start with 3k (then with a big enough inverter) add
>> another couple of K next year and qualify for a second rebate from
> austin..
>> At least thats what my solar guys told me.
>
> It's true... I have a pair of 3.328kw systems using 208w Sharp
> panels... Making for 6.656 kw total on my roof.  All told the city
> paid me $27k to put the panels up there, and Uncle Sam paid me another
> $4k.  (That was over 2 years of course.)  I've probably got room up
> there for another 6 kw of solar on my roof, but I'm investing in a
> Geothermal heat pump this year as my A/C is almost dead and the
> stimulus bill also lifted the $2k cap on tax credits for geothermal
> heat pumps.  The geothermal heat pump should cut my electric bill by
> 2/3rds, meaning that I will be generating more electricity than I use
> (even with the electric car).
>
> As for cleaning... I am embarrassed to say that I have never cleaned
> my solar panels.  The oldest ones up on my roof are almost 2 years
> old.  However I have never noticed any significant power drop off, nor
> have I noticed any real difference between the power generated my
> first set and my second set.  I imagine the occasional rain and hail
> cleans them enough to keep my power generation well within spec.
>
> I will take this as notice that I should go up and do that.    :-)
>
>
> -- 
> TTFN,
> Brian "Lasso" Lasseter
>
> "No Sane man will dance."   -Cicero (106-43 B.C.)
> _______________________________________________
> AusEV mailing list
> AusEV at austinev.org
> http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.5/1979 - Release Date:  
> 03/03/09
> 07:25:00
>
> _______________________________________________
> AusEV mailing list
> AusEV at austinev.org
> http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev

_______________________________________________
AusEV mailing list
AusEV at austinev.org
http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.5/1979 - Release Date: 03/03/09
07:25:00