Alternative Energy Sources

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Alternative Energy Sources

Postby wildrose » Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:10 am

'Net-Zero' Homes Strive for Energy Efficiency
The only question is whether or not the initial cost of all that equipment balances out eventually as a result of savings on utility bills. In other words, does the cost of the solar panels (and other special equipment and materials) actually wind up getting paid for and how long does that take?
:conf2:
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Re: Energy Efficiency

Postby James Sel » Wed Jul 24, 2013 10:21 am

wildrose wrote:'Net-Zero' Homes Strive for Energy Efficiency
The only question is whether or not the initial cost of all that equipment balances out eventually as a result of savings on utility bills. In other words, does the cost of the solar panels (and other special equipment and materials) actually wind up getting paid for and how long does that take?


It really depends on how much one "normal energy use" is. If a home has a average bill of $100 a month, it would take too long to hit the break even point. Around $250-300 is when it starts to make sense to finance a system. Payments on a
$30-40K system would need to be less than $250 a month IMO to make it worth while.
I think that if a $40k system was put on a $100k home in an undesirable housing market. The home would likely increase $25-30k in value. The opposite would happen in a hot housing market.
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby wildrose » Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:58 am

The energy potential of algae
This is an interesting line of research. Even if it doesn't actually produce an alternative energy source, it sounds like there may be other spinoffs that could be quite useful in any number of potential ways!
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby CoolChick » Tue Nov 25, 2014 12:05 pm

All Aboard UK's First Poo-Powered Bus :poop:
Free fare for anyone who can produce a decent-sized crap!!! Not really, but there should be a discount for people who make large contributions!
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby pcslim » Sun May 03, 2015 6:48 am

Tesla unveils a battery for your home :sun:
Combined with solar or wind-powered energy, this battery could almost make a home energy independent. The cost of the battery is around $3500 and who knows how much installation would cost. So, it's hard to say whether or not this would be a cost-effective move, but if uninterrupted power is a priority for you, this might be worth considering.
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby mrfish » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:55 am

Energy-Efficiency Improvements Might Not Pay Off
Here's something you probably already knew: It often costs more to be more energy-efficient, than the resulting energy savings are worth. Usually we call this type of situation an example of false economy. Another example includes many cars which are labeled as being energy-efficient. Often people pay way more for the car than is justified by the amount of money saved in fuel costs, but it does sound cool to say that you drive around in an energy-efficient car or have an energy-efficient house. So, if the bragging rights are worth the extra cost, then go for it!
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby twister » Thu Jul 23, 2015 8:22 am

More homeowners turning to solar
I know a few people in the area who have solar panels, but it's still a little expensive for most of my friends. Technological stuff usually drops in price and so maybe in a few years the price won't be so bad.
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby MojaveMike » Sat Sep 19, 2015 11:14 am

Can Your Entire House Run On Batteries?
Expensive, but it would be a great way to go off the grid. Eventually the technology might become less expensive.
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby a2z » Mon Dec 07, 2015 10:22 pm

Solar Roof Tiles Are The Future Of Eco Homes
Just a bunch of pics of roof tiles for you to look at...
LINK: http://www.improgrammer.net/solar-roof-tiles-future-eco-homes/
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Re: Alternative Energy Sources

Postby CoolChick » Sun Mar 20, 2016 7:20 am

Is Solar Power Worth It? :sun:
The upfront costs can be prohibitive. Philosophically I like the idea, but financially, I'm not sure if it's practical.
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