Comments for Alexandria, VA Feng Shui and LEED Design

Comment on D.C. Considers Community Solar Power by Van

Van — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:01:03 +0000

The sharing the cost part is not hard. The cost would ilnduce the [hopefully professional] install, including permits and fees. And you would share in the rebates. As far as any tax credits, most likely, only one person would take them, and would pay the equivalent of 1/4 of the amount each to the other two parties.Now, the hard news. Solar is not a big moneymaker. It can save money, but it is more of a money *saver* than maker. In most states, the power company doesn’t write an actual check for the electricity generated all they do is measure the net energy usage, and bill for that. So if a bill used to be $100 a month, and is now $40, it’s hard to determine how much of the difference was due to the solar panels’ input, and how much was due to plain old conservation. To be fair, you would need a separate meter to measure the solar panels’ output. Also, it is normal for solar panels not to break even for 5-10 years. And in some places, the panels will never break even.I’m a big fan of solar, and we even have our own panels on our roof, but I would be leery of getting entangled with relatives over the revenues from a photovoltaic system. I would say, if your mother doesn’t have the cash to pay for the system herself, she should get a home equity loan. If no one will give her such a loan, I don’t think it’s a good time for her to get such a system. If she can get a loan, you and your sisters could loan her the money at below-market rates, with the solar system as collateral. I would guess that you would each be putting up on the order of $4000, and expect to get paid back perhaps $10 a month.

Comment on D.C. Considers Community Solar Power by Chanlai

Chanlai — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:25:32 +0000

First, I am not sure you would be better off being off the grid. If your state has net meeritng, you can bank power when making more than you are using. You can get it back when you use more than you are making. Batteries are an unnecessary, costly accessory. Unless you have critical need for power when the utility has an outage, you can do without them. In any event, buying and maintaining a small generator would be less costly.Using one manufacturer’s panels (they call them modules), you could get a 7.5 Kw system on your 900 sq ft. This means something around 5 kW effective.Look up INSOLATION TABLESon the Internet to find the average annual sun energy where you live.In my area it is 5 hours. 5 x 5 is 25, so you would get an average of 25 killowatt hours per day. Look at your utility bill, and see how much you now use. This will put you in the ballpark. It is likely, though, you won’t get a full 900 sq ft of modules. And, the angle from north-south your latitude and the pitch of the roof will all contribute to the efficiency of the system.My 6 kW system gives me 20kWh per day. Living alone, this is much more than I use for the items you mentioned. I keep track of daily electric meter readings. From a four-year record, I know roughly how much surplus I would have, and use that to augment heat from the gas furnace. Actually I used no gas last winter, except for heating water.Read all you can on the Internet, and in the green search box at the top of the page.Certainly you want to reroof prior to mounting the modules. Solar contractors like to say the modules protect the roof, but really it is only partial protection.Brain

Comment on Meet the stars and the moon by Allison

Allison — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:32:11 +0000

Love the blog

Comment on Meet the stars and the moon by beats by dre

beats by dre — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:01:54 +0000

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Comment on Meet the stars and the moon by Beats By Dre New Style

Beats By Dre New Style — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:08:10 +0000

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Comment on Meet the stars and the moon by Vincent Finneran

Vincent Finneran — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:42:54 +0000

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Comment on ABOUT by earthwisedesign

earthwisedesign — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:08:52 +0000

Thank you Vitta. I am also blessed and inspired to know such a beautiful woman as you. Keep blessing us with all your gifts!

Comment on ABOUT by vitta

vitta — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:33:58 +0000

awe some!!!
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