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Solar power in NM is a very good thread. I am also considering installing a solar power
system above La Luz on my property. I am welder/mechanic who is very anxious to get to NM., and start setting up shop. Keep this solar power and wind turbine discussions going as we can all benefit greatly.
> Depending on your utility, solar may be the better option,
> or wind may be the better option.
Are you refering to power buyback from the power company?
Does it make a difference to them?
Also, have you heard of any dual systems. On closer inspection,
the original poster was talking about a windmill on a house (I think)
and that might come with some noise issues, but on a country lot,
I could see a dual system, but you would know better than I if
there is a reason *not* to install such.
Different power companies do vary greatly, unfortunately.
PNM will pay $0.22/kWh for grid-tied solar.
Other utilities will pay $0.07-$0.14/kWh for grid-tied solar.
If it costs 15 years to pay off in PNM's service area, it could take 45 years to pay off elsewhere.
Wind doesn't seem to see as large of a distinction. It pretty much earns $0.07-$0.14/kWh wherever you go.
I think if you're grid-tied, a hybrid system is probably a bad idea. Solar or wind will be the better option. No point in mixing them and having two systems unless you can't fit both on your house.
Off-grid, a hybrid system could make sense; wind and solar tend to produce their power at opposite times.
Before I would recommend a customer install any alternate energy system I would suggest they adapt and/or modify thier existing house to take every possible advantage of the existing structure to reduce the energy use as much as possible. No matter where it was located.
This is an encouraging thread. I think I will look around here to get some experience before setting out for NM.
> ... would suggest they ... reduce the energy use as much as possible.
Even before doing stuff with "existing structures" try taking a look at
personal usage patterns. There are lots of ways to be a cheap
b@st@ard without suffering if people would only change their
mind set and learning some physics.
I have been a cheap Bstrd for a very long time. The only reason I have not replaced the incandescent lamps with fluorescent is that I sort of heat the place with electricity and the incandescent are small heaters as well as lights.
We have an antique (old that somebody gave us 40 years ago) three-way floor lamp (100-200-300 Watt) in the living room. A month ago the old mogul base (very large diameter) switch/socket stopped working. We looked in Home Despot for a replacement. All we found were lamps with half the power and selling for $60 – $100. I asked Anne to go to the local electrical supply place to get another socket. That cost $21 and 15 min to install
> ... have not replaced the incandescent lamps with fluorescent
> is that I sort of heat the place with ... the ... small heaters ...
Heh. I change out my CF bulbs with old incandescent bulbs in the
winter so I don't waste them by throwing them out (recycling them).
If they are still alive, I'll change them back in the summer when the
additional lighting causes additional load on the a/c.
If the wife takes baths, do you have her keep the bathwater in the
tub for, at least, a few hours? Even after the water feels cool to the
hand, it is still warming the house and heating water takes (took) a
lot of energy. I don't like to send it down the drain till I get it back.
Once the heating season starts, I'll keep the ceiling fan running at night
to prevent air temperature stratification.
If I had an older house with bad windows, I'd put up visqueen on them
to seal them up.
Mortimer - like I said - increase the efficiency (I like the let the tub water cool idea) then look for alternate energy sources. I have a friend that just built a small cabin in Maine that is about $30,000 from the power lines. I am helping him with alternate energy supplies. Fortunately he does not need much more than flashlights at this point but he is planning on building a large house in a few years. That will be an interesting project.
If you have a roof full of solar panels converting sunlight to electricity, that should have the effect of lowering your need for air conditioning by shading the roof.
Any idea what the drop in that load might be?
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