https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Sat, 07 Aug 2021 11:09:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7828 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 20:18:33 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7828 I live in Georgia. I wanted
I live in Georgia. I wanted to incorporate a AC Solar system into my “nearly passive house”. I am not very bright, so I have been trying to figure out where I can sell my excess power, Georgia Power has no more slots left for their 5 yr. .17/kWh schema. So i guess without resorting to DC, roof top solar ins dead in Georgia, unless I get on a waiting list to maybe, possibly, at some future date be able to sell my power to someone.  
 
Allison, is this the state of things here? If you know of a way to make AC solar work and whom to sell the power to, let me know. 
 
Yours lovingly, Leo

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7829 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 15:18:33 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7829 I live in Georgia. I wanted
I live in Georgia. I wanted to incorporate a AC Solar system into my "nearly passive house". I am not very bright, so I have been trying to figure out where I can sell my excess power, Georgia Power has no more slots left for their 5 yr. .17/kWh schema. So i guess without resorting to DC, roof top solar ins dead in Georgia, unless I get on a waiting list to maybe, possibly, at some future date be able to sell my power to someone. &nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Allison, is this the state of things here? If you know of a way to make AC solar work and whom to sell the power to, let me know.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Yours lovingly, Leo

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7826 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 18:59:47 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7826 Gerald: 

Gerald: 
If the sun was the primary source heating the earth then the temperature would get colder the deeper we dig. The opposite is true. Radioactive decay is why the center of the earth is so hot. This has little impact on your GSHP system. Heating and Cooling systems trade energy and use the mass around your boreholes as an energy bank. If your heating and cooling loads vary too greatly then the average temperature around your boreholes will change over time.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7827 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 13:59:47 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7827 Gerald:&nbsp; <br /&gt
Gerald:&nbsp; <br />If the sun was the primary source heating the earth then the temperature would get colder the deeper we dig. The opposite is true. Radioactive decay is why the center of the earth is so hot. This has little impact on your GSHP system. Heating and Cooling systems trade energy and use the mass around your boreholes as an energy bank. If your heating and cooling loads vary too greatly then the average temperature around your boreholes will change over time.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7824 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 00:29:54 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7824 Consensus seems to be that
Consensus seems to be that this technology is win-win, but simply needs more time to develop and improve. It’s not so much a debate as it is a series of speculations of varying positivity.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7822 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 20:50:50 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7822 According to ASHRAE GHP
According to ASHRAE GHP systems work for 24 years as compared to a conventional system which works for 14 years before it must be replaced. I have a 6,000 sf home that has 9 tons of Ground Source Heat Pumps and it cost on the average of $80 per month for electricity…heating, cooling, and hot water…I know it works. Installed in 2010 at a cost of $300 less than a conventional system. 6 boreholes 300′ deep with 1″ HDPE pipe and reverse return gives me my own ground utility. Geothermal heat pump system runs 24/7/365 days a year regardless if the sun shines or wind blows. Hope Crossing in OKC has installed 300 Habit homes out of 500 to be built with ground source heat pump systems. Research comparing ground-source (geothermal) heat pump and variable refrigerant flow heating and cooling systems at the ASHRAE headquarters building in Atlanta, Georgia. https://www.geoexchange.org/library/download-info/performance-hvac-systems-ashrae-headquarters-building/ Sure GSHP systems are renewable just like solar panels generate electrical power when the sun hits them, the ground is warmed by the sun everytime the sun hits the earth. Without the sun no solar panels would work and the earth would be to cold from lack of sun shine.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7820 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 19:59:08 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7820 Gerald M.:
Gerald M.: I’m going to have step in and challenge you on that one. A “geothermal” heat pump is better called a ground-source heat pump and it’s certainly not free. Without the generous tax credits, it would not be feasible for homes. Please see the article I wrote on this topic a while back: 
 
Does a Geothermal Heat Pump Count as a Renewable Energy Source? 
 
Solar electricity free isn’t free either, but its costs are in the installation. It generally costs $3500-4000 per kilowatt to install. Ground-source heat pumps have installation costs and operating costs because they use electricity, just like a regular air-source heat pump.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7818 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 19:53:08 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7818 Sure lets use solar to
Sure lets use solar to generate electrical power from the sun, but first use the free energy from under your feet by using geothermal heat pump system saving half the number of solar panels you would us. Honor the earth by using free energy from the earth. Add one part energy from the sun and get 3-4 parts of free energy from the earth. Under ground the earth stays a constant temperture year round in my area it is 62 degrees. By taking the energy from the ground I only need to raise it 8 degrees to make it 70 degrees in my home. No outside components hail, cold, hot can destroy my components heating, cooling and generating hot water for my home. Operates 24,7,365 days a year.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7816 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 19:37:56 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7816 Solar energy is an important
Solar energy is an important part of life and has been since the beginning of time. Increasingly, man is learning how to harness this important resource and use it to replace traditional energy sources. Solar energy cells can be used to produce the power for a calculator or a watch. They can also be used to produce enough power to run an entire city. With that kind of versatility, it is a great energy source.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy/#comment-7814 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 19:30:40 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=solar-electricity-the-final-source-of-energy#comment-7814 Solar is not without
Solar is not without challenges. See Kauai’s experience here:http://www.technologyreview.com/news/534266/hawaiis-solar-push-strains-the-grid/&nbsp;
 
I installed a 5kw system 3 years ago and it has operated flawlessly;Not a single hick-up and has produced 1MW more than consumption in each of those 3 years. 
On the payback issue, I could not find an investment that would ‘pay’ $1500/year on $20,000 anywhere these days.

]]>