Re: Midterms
  By: August Abolins to Mark Hofmann on Wed Aug 17 2022 08:19 am

 > Hello Mark Hofmann!
 > 
 > ** On Monday 15.08.22 - 16:00, Mark Hofmann wrote to Rob McCart:
 > 
 >  RM>> My sister covered her garage roof with solar panels that
 >  RM>> feed back into the grid to save them a small percentage
 >  RM>> of their power costs. The panels cost them $80,000, make
 >  RM>> about half the power they were estimated..
 > 
 >  MH> I just did a quick calculation.  If you average bill is
 >  MH> $350/month and even if the $80k provided enough power
 >  MH> where your home would cost zero to run (highly unlikely),
 >  MH> it would take 19 years to recoup the costs.
 > 
 > Plus.. to be totally off-grid, you'd probably want to add
 > batteries.  Those would need to be replaced every 5 years or
 > so.
 > 
 > I envy people who can live off-grid. But the cost of entry
 > seems high.
 > 
 > However, if it adds value to a property, then one might recoup
 > some resonable cost and achieve gains when one is ready to sell
 > and move into a retirement home or something.
 > 
 > --
 >   ../|ug
 > 
 > --- OpenXP 5.0.51
 >  * Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Batteries last more or less depending on how badly you abuse them.

If you really want to go off grid with a renewable source, you need a deplyment
similar to the one I am building: battery backed solar/wind/whatever (or a
combination) + a backup diesel generator.

Except yours would need to be much more powerful. Going energy self-sufficient
for 75-90% of the year is doable for a regular family but ensuring 100% gets
stupid expensive.

LOts of people are building solar in order so save money. I think we are not
yet at the point we break even with solar, but I think it makes sense as a life
insurance of sorts.

--
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