From jmparkin@gibbs.oit.unc.edu Fri Jun 24 21:29:37 1994 Date: 24 Jun 1994 17:53:03 GMT From: Jonathan Parkinson To: renew-energy@twosocks.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: Running off DC.... In article , Charlie Johnston wrote: > >Well, this group looked a bit undersubscribed...so maybe this'll spark >a thread...or maybe not. I sure hope it sparks a thread - this is sad - I've never seen a news group (and such an important one, too) with only one posting! Charlie, I'm sending a copy of this to your e-mail address, but also posting it to the group (if this works), because I have lots of EXCELLENT RESOURCES that you (and everyone else tuning in here) should know about... FAQ material!? ;-) >We live in a fairly rural area, just finished building our very >conventionally constructed house. I looked (albeit rather shallowly) >into alternative construction methods (like earth-berms or stress-skin >panels) but didn't do anything in the way of alternative energy. It's too bad you didn't ask sooner! I notice that you're right here at Carolina... and one of the best solar energy (and other alternative energy) information sources is right down the road at NC State - The North Carolina Solar Center - see address and phone below. One of the their services is a tour of solar homes in the Triangle area every November, and let me tell you, these are some of the most pleasant, comfortable, attractive and INEXPENSIVE homes I have ever seen. They run the gamut from, 1200 sq. ft. up to 6500 sq. ft. (with a full-size indoor pool)! Heating/cooling costs run from $200 and a cord of wood ($0 for cooling) to $300/mo. (including the pool heating and ALL electical usage)! Even if you aren't a solar fanatic, you've got to see some of these homes - the architecture and atmosphere is outstanding - they make ANY of the developers package jobs (even the very large, very fancy, very expensive ones - I've seen a few) look like mush. Sorry, I'll stop... It's a great, fun, educational tour! >We have a fair potential for alternative energy generation - situated near >the crest of a hill with fairly steady wind much of the year, lots of >south-facing roof for photovoltaics or hot water systems, a 1.5 acre >pond which is uphill of a small river. Could a combination of smaller >scale solar/wind/hydro systems provide enough power for our near-3000 sq. >ft. home? My impression is that using DC in this application is more >efficient than AC, but since you hear of people selling excess wattage >back to the power companies, I assume some systems must generate AC. >How available/efficient/costly are DC replacements for major electrical >appliances ie. air conditioner, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher? You sound like you're in the perfect position to end up making money suplying Duke Power (or CP&L) - I think they both have buy back programs (run your meter backwards)! ====================================================================== The people and resources you should contact are: The North Carolina Solar Center Box 7401 Raleigh, NC 27695-7401 1-800-33-NCSUN (1-800-336-2786) * They offer, as I mentioned above, a solar home tour, their own solar demonstration house, TONS of literature and references to other sources (leaflets, brochures, magazines, bibliographies, lists of solar architects, etc.), and they even provide assistence in planning your own solar/renewable (wind, etc.) projects (large or small). Real Goods 966 Mazzoni Street Ukiah, CA 95482-3471 1-800-762-7325 FAX: 707-468-9486 * They put out a free catalogue which offers lots of very useful (and lots of 'cute' useless) products for recycling, energy conservation, and (most importantly) RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION - solar panels, wind turbines, even water wheels! Most of the serious equipment is presented (along with LOTS of useful information) in their larger ($16 - refundable with purchase) catalogue, the "Alternative Energy Sourcebook." They also offer "Wind Power for Home and Business," and "The Independant Home," 'over 300 pages, with 60 photographs of the homes and homesteaders, and 35 illustrations that demonstrate the technologies.' The Union of Concerned Scientists 26 Church Street Cambridge, MA 02238 617-547-5552 * UCS is an excellent private non-profit organization dedicated to bringing peace, health (especially environmental), and stability to the world. They produce a great variety of extremely valuable and well-researched materials on renewable energy (everything from passive solar home design to massive commercial scale solar/geothermal power plants and biomass to hydrogen fuel cells, which will eventually power your pontiac after we kill each other over the last drop of oil). Books, brochures, newsletter, videos, etc. Call 'em up and ask, and join! Worldwatch Institute 1776 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20036-1904 * They research and produce a great series of "Worldwatch Papers" on a variety of subjects, "Worldwatch Magazine", and "State of the World," a very interesting, useful, and highly regarded annual paperback. Here are a few (of the many) additional organizations (taken from the North Carolina Solar Center Bibliography: American Solar Energy Society 2400 Central Ave., B-1 Boulder, CO 80301 303-443-3130 Conservation and Renewable Energy Inquiry and Referral Service (CAREIRS) P.O. Box 8900 Silver Springs, MD 20907 1-800-523-2929 National Appropriate Technology Assistance Service (NATAS) P.O. Box 2525 Butte, MT 59702 1-800-428-2525 North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation P.O. Box 12699 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 919-549-9046 North Carolina Solar Energy Association 850 West Morgan Street Raleigh, NC 27603 919-832-7601 Solar Energy Research Institute 1617 Cole Blvd. Golden, CO 80401 303-231-7303 (Technical Inquiry Service) =========================================================================== Go for it! Good luck! Have fun! Let me know if you put of this to work for you - I need the vicarious pleasure and satisfaction (I'm a poor, renting graduate student)! - Jonathan Parkinson (jmp@unc.edu) Dept. of Biology, CB# 3280 Univ. of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280 919-968-0905 / FAX:919-962-1625