[SixClub] Alternative Energy [Was: QRP and Small Engines]

[doc at kd4e.com]

You will find some real helpful people and some real practical
DIY solutions to alternative energy projects on these two groups:

simplyoffgrid at yahoogroups.com
SimplySolar at yahoogroups.com

It might be interesting to spin-off from Field Day (which has
devolved into more of another contest than real EM-comm test)
some sort of recognition of Ham stations that use 100% or some
percentage of off-grid, alternative, and/or short-term (25 years
or less, e.g. pulp from fast-growing trees) or immediately
renewable (sun, water, wind) energy.

Perhaps we could begin it on Six ... if the band ever opens up
on a predictable basis.

> These are reasons I am putting in a plan of alternative energy for my home.
> I am surrounded by wind turbines here, everywhere you look there is wind
> turbines, but it doesn't affect my local price because the power is sent
> down huge lines to surrounding states where they can sell it for more than
> they can locally.
>
> I plan in the next couple years to have both wind and solar on my home.  I
> look at it as an investment in my future.  Analysts are saying it could cost
> the average family an additional $1000-$1500 a year on electricity.  I have
> been pricing technology to help with this for a while now.  Its about $1 a
> watt for wind and $2 a watt for solar looking at all my options.  I know
> some will say they can do it cheaper but I don't believe it.  I have been
> pricing systems for a while now, and even the cheapest baseline setups are
> going to run that.  Good solar setups run more like $3-$4 a watt.
>
> However...  With an increase of $1000-$1500 on the horizon, its not a matter
> of if it’s a matter of when in my opinion, I could invest in wind pretty
> easily.  I have been pricing small residential systems that are roughly
> $1000-$1500 installed (me doing the install to save money) for about 1kw of
> wind power.  It might take years for it to pay itself off and it might not,
> it all depends on energy costs.  Eventually I want to have 1kw of wind and
> 1kw of solar, I have done the math with my consumption and I think other
> than the coldest days of the winter I would be breaking even most months,
> maybe even making some extra.
>
> With the new grid tie systems and not having the expense of the batteries,
> which are normally 3/4 of the system cost and require maintenance and have a
> limited life, alternative energy is becoming more easy to accomplish for the
> average family.  Add to that the use of LED bulbs and low consumption
> appliances its very possible to be bill free and off grid, but if everyone
> stayed on grid and fed excess power to the grid we could also help alleviate
> the load on the power plants as well.
>
> I never thought about it before, but lately I have really had my head in
> alternative energy.
>
> 73,
>
> Scott KB0NLY

-- 

Thanks! & 73, KD4E
David Colburn http://kd4e.com
Have an http://ultrafidian.com day
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
Shop Freedom-Friendly http://kd4e.com/of.html