n0m4n

joined 1 year ago
[–] n0m4n 5 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Neanderthals (as we understand them) are extinct. We are not extinct...... yet.

[–] n0m4n 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I am in the process of replacing the plastic release latches with aluminum replacements on our Lazy-Boys. For a few dollars, there is a world of difference in quality. Measure carefully so that you get the correct replacement size. With a little practice, it takes 5 minutes or less to replace the latch and cable. IDK of BIFL brand recliners, but this is an EZ upgrade when the cheap part wears out.

[–] n0m4n 3 points 1 year ago

E-bike repair and sales.

Electrician, as household remove gas appliances, they will be switching to electricity. Any building trade, actually. There are going to be a lot of houses and buildings that will upgrading to be more green, and as climate effects will be stronger, houses will have to be built stronger to withstand a more angry mother Nature, and more insulated.

Given the number of houses that will be needed to replace what we have, this will be a boom industry for years. Factory built houses that are field assembled is one area that could be high growth. I expect 3D printed houses, and underground houses to be a trend, too.

[–] n0m4n 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have a building contractor friend tells clients that he can build good, cheap, or fast, pick any two. That adage applies here.

[–] n0m4n 2 points 1 year ago

Climate change is going to affect corporations as much or more than the will affect every other person on the planet. Corporations cannot ignore what is happening without risking becoming extinct. themselves. Greenwashing will not help our situation. But the slowest and least intelligent dinosaurs lead the worst of the problem causing industries. Until they are forced to help, they will not lift a finger.

These mangers, by law, are required to take care of their owners (stockholders) interests, first. As such, moral arguments are worse than a waste of time. Moral arguments divert attention away from what must be addressed.

[–] n0m4n 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

We had our questions answered, and decided to go ahead with the deal.

I doubt that I can build a 12 panel solar collector, the inverter, the tie-ins and electrical panel upgrades, the batteries, the mounting structure, and wiring for $3200, which is 10% electrical capacity above our highest usage to offset the inevitable loss of efficiency by aging equipment. It will pay for our $1100 yearly electric bill and an additional return of $350 as a yearly rebate together, which adds to $1450 yearly return for 20 years (in today's' dollars). The payback is an estimated 45% declining to 40% every year over 20 years.

I also do not have to tie up land, nor maintain the collector, nor worry about vandalism, nor accidental damage. Edit add: An additional government rebate dropped my cost from $4800 to $3200. This swung the offer to be so convincingly enticing.

[–] n0m4n 3 points 1 year ago

When mine were new, I waterproofed them. Regular maintenance, cleaning and re-treating them with a silicone spray extends their life substantially. I also have repaired and re-glued mine when repairs were still at a small stage, to extend their life. I have re-sewn tops to the soles, too. I wear my junker shoes when conditions are wet, saving the good shoes from water damage. YouTube teaches about anything, now, including basic shoe repair.

[–] n0m4n 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I learned efficiency in heat transfer by opposite current flows. For example, a heat trade between outside air coming in, and inside air blowing out is most efficient if the highest temperature has the exchanger with the coldest temperature, and second and third stages of exchange always move so that the last exchanger have both sides closest in temperature.

If you want to squeeze the most that you can in a passive system, this principle will help.

Don't forget, in insulating, you want the least transfer, so you go in the opposite direction.

[–] n0m4n 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

"I'm going to build my vertical farm/solar panels to put you into perpetual shade. Then, I will put float reflective Mylar panels to steal even more solar." "Enjoy my shade!" /$ For truly transgressive, I will build coal smoke towers, positioned to block your sunlight, and cover everything that you have with soot. Art that reflects this would carry your point across.

[–] n0m4n 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks for chiming in. I will need to dig in on how the electricity generated is calculated out per customer. I ASSUMED that panels will be replaced as they lose efficiency, and added as their farms grow, getting new panels and new members over time. New panels, with far better efficiencies, will reduce costs. Time is on their side. This is another Moore's law-Koomey's law coming into play. I see that I need more details to make a truly informed decision.

[–] n0m4n 1 points 1 year ago

I moved to high ground, and have undue wind damage risk at my site. I have always opted to having control in my past. I have some other plans in the near future, If I do it myself, solar will be shelved for a few years, realistically speaking.

[–] n0m4n 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Eleven panels are quoted as needed. I am buying 12, (if I buy in) and would get my fraction equiv to twelve panels in their total array farm. Their insurance, wear, and depreciation is not my problem, because it is priced into their panel array costs. $4800 is a one time cost. Payments are available, at 20% higher cost. (20% for financing is far more than I am willing to pay.)

Alliant (the company) wants to be "green", and are putting in wind farms and solar farms. They sold their nuclear plant and mothballed their coal plants, rebuilding to more efficient natural-gas turbines and co-gen facilities. (Elec and heat). They are putting in incentives for people to buy in to solar, in their pricing structure, IMO. More farms will be built. This will average out old array replacement and will presumably reduce their costs, as efficiencies increase.

I also get the satisfaction of getting my net energy to zero, and helping to fund an innovative energy initiative, while off-loading risk and another complex time suck. edited the company name. thx auto-correct for messing me up again, lol

 

I just discovered a solar project run by my electrical provider, that allows me to pay for a number of grids, and will offset my usage and electric bills. This is a multi-state large publicly traded electric company, not a fly-by-night outfit. Essentially, this is similar to having my own panels, and being plugged in to sell excess kWs, but the panels are in their solar farm, managed, and maintained by the electric company. The break-even is 12 years, and the life is 20 years. The breakdown risks are insured by them. The negatives are that at exactly 20 years, I would have to do it again.

You are the experts. Are there other risks that I do not see?

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