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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/26/2011 4:01:35 PM   
Icarys


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quote:

I am curious, why is it you are moving to alaska? I spent the best couple of summers of my life there. I don't think there was a thing I didn't like about it.

Many reasons. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I used to daydream about the place. I used to draw out plans for underground homes and above ground huts along with reading about every wilderness survival book I could get my hands on.
Who knows..Maybe in a small way it's an attempt to recapture what I felt as a youth all those times I went out into wilderness and the times I took off cross country and laid my head at night off of the beaten path.
I'm looking for a more remote life that will be less encumbered by societies rules so to speak. Looking for more independence in a deeper way I suppose. A deeper sense of freedom. I believe it is a state of mind to a great degree but the physical plays a part in it as well.

Another is that the vast unspoiled wilderness and beauty of the place has always called me. I've decided to answer before it's a regret. I told someone recently in an email that a lot of places in this country are really beautiful but none like Alaska. I meant that.

One more is the challenge..Yada yada..I could go on but I'll stop.

< Message edited by Icarys -- 5/26/2011 4:08:50 PM >

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submission - the feeling of patient, submissive humbleness - the state of being submissive or compliant; meekness.

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http://tinyurl.com/872mcu3
http://alturl.com/mog7m

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Profile   Post #: 41
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 8:59:09 AM   
DomKen


Posts: 19457
Joined: 7/4/2004
From: Chicago, IL
Status: offline 		More good news.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-26/solar-may-be-cheaper-than-fossil-power-in-five-years-ge-says.html

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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:19:23 AM   
Musicmystery


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quote:

this could be easily done with new home construction


For what it's worth, after looking into several options, my new home uses passive solar for HVAC and a windmill for electricity.

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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:30:04 AM   
DomKen


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

quote:

this could be easily done with new home construction


For what it's worth, after looking into several options, my new home uses passive solar for HVAC and a windmill for electricity.


I'm curious about the wind turbine, what kind did you choose and was noise an issue (how close are your neighbors)?

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Profile   Post #: 44
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:36:23 AM   
Musicmystery


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Status: offline 		Ken,

Keep in mind that this isn't one of the big commercial ones (local farmers near here have those), but a small one designed for a single home.

In NYS, you can get a 30% tax credit for it. You can also sell excess power back to the grid.

And granted, my neighbors are all 500 feet or more away.


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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:40:03 AM   
DomKen


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From: Chicago, IL
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Ken,

Keep in mind that this isn't one of the big commercial ones (local farmers near here have those), but a small one designed for a single home.

In NYS, you can get a 30% tax credit for it. You can also sell excess power back to the grid.

And granted, my neighbors are all 500 feet or more away.



I've been looking at helping my aunt and cousin buy one but their neighbors are fairly close to where it would need to be sited and the vertical axis ones seem the quietest but 5db still seems fairly loud and that is for a 1.2 KW turbine which is woefully inadequate.

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Profile   Post #: 46
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:42:59 AM   
Musicmystery


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Status: offline 		I'm not sure what we're using, Ken. My architect/friend would know. It's the last priority, as it can be done after the house is finished if need be.

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Profile   Post #: 47
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:45:46 AM   
cuckoldmepls


Posts: 855
Joined: 11/29/2007
Status: offline 		As a supplemental energy source, wind and solar is fine. But the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine. Let the free market work here. Every time the government subsidizes something with tax breaks and subsidies, we end up throwing our money away.

For example if we build a high speed rail network across the entire country, it would be the biggest waste of money this country has ever seen, and we've seen a lot of waste. AMTRAK is ample proof that passenger rail doesn't pay for itself. The only thing that saves AMTRAK is the fact that in the North East, it saves from having to double and triple the number of lanes they would need without it. That advantage doesn't apply in the rest of the country.

Ethanol is another example. It takes more energy to produce ethanol than we extract from it, and all it does is drive up our food prices. If the government wasn't subsidizing it, the cost of ethanol would be much higher than regular gas. It also damages the engines of older model cars, lawn mowers, motorcycles, boats, and small equipment.

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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:48:03 AM   
mnottertail


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Status: offline 		You might take that into consideration regarding fossil fuels, sport.

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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 9:48:55 AM   
Musicmystery


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quote:

But the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine.


Irrelevant. That energy can be stored locally or supplement the grid systemically.

It's still a renewable alternative energy source.

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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 10:07:59 AM   
juliaoceania


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quote:

People forget that solar panels have a lifespan and become less productive as they age, and so far, by the time you get your payback, its likely time to replace the panels again. Which sort of makes the whole process sort of pointless, from a $ point of view.


If people had to pay for the environmental costs of producing energy, maybe it would pencil out a little differently

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RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 11:18:51 AM   
SternSkipper


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quote:

One more is the challenge..Yada yada..I could go on but I'll stop


No need to... you nailed it.
  The ONLY think that eats me about the place is the stubby trees by comparison to new england. But I could deal... I love to fish and while I'd miss the mighty tuna and the striped bass. Salmon have their own mystique.
  But I get what you're saying and I envy you for realizing that dream.


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Profile   Post #: 52
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 11:25:18 AM   
Musicmystery


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Status: offline 		*psst....we can fish for salmon right here in upstate NY....come on over.....*

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Profile   Post #: 53
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 11:26:46 AM   
SternSkipper


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quote:

A deeper sense of freedom. I believe it is a state of mind to a great degree but the physical plays a part in it as well.


I know that one ... if I ever get to my wilderness, one of the things I am looking forward to is that if the cops come by, it'd be more of a "How'd you survive the winter?" ... not that they stop by much at all, but when they do, it's more like :"Have you seen this man in the neighborhood?". That actually happened when I first moved back into the city. I said wait here and went and got my picture of jefferson (Tom, not George) and showed it to him and he laughed and said "I've seen him on my beer, that's Sam Adams". I said "You're one smart officer". And said goodbye.
   Green Acres is the place to be

< Message edited by SternSkipper -- 5/27/2011 11:33:27 AM >

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Profile   Post #: 54
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 11:32:49 AM   
SternSkipper


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quote:

*psst....we can fish for salmon right here in upstate NY....come on over.....*


1) You also have NYSPD all over the roads

2) Atlantic Salmon and Coho are NOTHING like Kings, Sockeyes, or Humpies... the fight on those bad boys is just mental

And here in Massachusetts.. saltwater fishing is THE ONLY THING to call fishing... so you got a huge leg up on us in that dept.



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Profile   Post #: 55
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 3:49:58 PM   
Icarys


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quote:

For what it's worth, after looking into several options, my new home uses passive solar for HVAC and a windmill for electricity.

Yeah that's awesome..In many states passive would work great and could be even easier to implement in new home construction. I don't know the numbers for savings versus costs, though and have only seen a little data to date, on how it's done.


_____________________________

submission - the feeling of patient, submissive humbleness - the state of being submissive or compliant; meekness.

Alaska Bound-The Official Countdown Has Started!
http://tinyurl.com/872mcu3
http://alturl.com/mog7m

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Profile   Post #: 56
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 3:56:30 PM   
Musicmystery


Posts: 30259
Joined: 3/14/2005
Status: offline 		With an appropriate site (i.e., facing south...mine's also partially earth sheltered on two sides), building one new is no more expensive than a regular home, as long as one appreciates a few differences (no basement, as a second floor costs twice as much to heat as a first floor that's earth sheltered). Converting one would be expensive.

Really, all it takes is a knowledgeable architect.

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Profile   Post #: 57
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 4:04:24 PM   
tj444


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quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

quote:

People forget that solar panels have a lifespan and become less productive as they age, and so far, by the time you get your payback, its likely time to replace the panels again. Which sort of makes the whole process sort of pointless, from a $ point of view.


If people had to pay for the environmental costs of producing energy, maybe it would pencil out a little differently


lol There is an enviromental cost to everything. You poop, theres an enviromental cost. Yet everyone flushes away (including you, I presume) without a whole lot of thought about it. You dont think that at the end of the lifespan of the solar panels & equipment that they wont end up in the land fill?

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Profile   Post #: 58
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 4:06:03 PM   
Musicmystery


Posts: 30259
Joined: 3/14/2005
Status: offline 		Do you estimate that cost will be greater than that of fossil fuels?

Please share your calculations. Thanks.

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Profile   Post #: 59
RE: Japan to pioneer universal solar power - 5/27/2011 4:13:58 PM   
Icarys


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quote:

no basement, as a second floor costs twice as much to heat as a first floor that's earth sheltered

Why would it cost twice as more to heat? You mean because of the size or the insulation/underground temp issues?


_____________________________

submission - the feeling of patient, submissive humbleness - the state of being submissive or compliant; meekness.

Alaska Bound-The Official Countdown Has Started!
http://tinyurl.com/872mcu3
http://alturl.com/mog7m

(in reply to Musicmystery)
Profile   Post #: 60
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