Comments on: Green Spot: Solar Powered http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2008/11/28/green-spot-solar-powered/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:31:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Adrian Crook http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2008/11/28/green-spot-solar-powered/comment-page-1/#comment-17179 Adrian Crook Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:18:44 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=573#comment-17179 Great article. One of the first ones I've ever seen that breaks alternate power down in a realistic fashion - i.e an objective look at whether it makes sense to do it, versus a blind "green is good" approach that ignores real costs. Definitely your last point about "are you going to stay in the house long term" is a salient one. We scrapped plans to install a new heat pump system in our place because it wouldn't pay back until after the timeframe we'd set for being in our current place. Great article. One of the first ones I’ve ever seen that breaks alternate power down in a realistic fashion – i.e an objective look at whether it makes sense to do it, versus a blind “green is good” approach that ignores real costs.

Definitely your last point about “are you going to stay in the house long term” is a salient one. We scrapped plans to install a new heat pump system in our place because it wouldn’t pay back until after the timeframe we’d set for being in our current place.

]]> By: Miss Thrifty http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2008/11/28/green-spot-solar-powered/comment-page-1/#comment-16638 Miss Thrifty Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:59:02 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=573#comment-16638 I have fantasies about those earthship places out in New Mexico. Sadly, my red-brick terrace in the north of England is a far cry from this! I have fantasies about those earthship places out in New Mexico. Sadly, my red-brick terrace in the north of England is a far cry from this!

]]> By: Shannon http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2008/11/28/green-spot-solar-powered/comment-page-1/#comment-16550 Shannon Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:43:06 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=573#comment-16550 A really great site is http://www.retscreen.net/ang/home.php- you can download (free) software that lets you try different alternative energy options and see how much it would cost, when the cost recovery happens etc. It is a pretty cool site. A really great site is http://www.retscreen.net/ang/home.php- you can download (free) software that lets you try different alternative energy options and see how much it would cost, when the cost recovery happens etc. It is a pretty cool site.

]]> By: MoneyGrubbingLawyer http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2008/11/28/green-spot-solar-powered/comment-page-1/#comment-16548 MoneyGrubbingLawyer Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:01:40 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=573#comment-16548 Are there any financing or tax incentives to make the up-front cost a little more manageable? That's the biggest issue for me- while it may pay for itself over the long run, it kills me to have to plunk down so much money to get things running. Are there any financing or tax incentives to make the up-front cost a little more manageable? That’s the biggest issue for me- while it may pay for itself over the long run, it kills me to have to plunk down so much money to get things running.

]]> By: Traciatim http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2008/11/28/green-spot-solar-powered/comment-page-1/#comment-16541 Traciatim Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:05:45 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=573#comment-16541 Solar hot water heating is far more efficient than PV panels. You can build a solar hot water system for under a grand that would easily provide all the hot water and most of the heat for a house for a family of 4. Solar hot water heating is far more efficient than PV panels. You can build a solar hot water system for under a grand that would easily provide all the hot water and most of the heat for a house for a family of 4.

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