Using Alternative Energy for only part of Home Electric

 I was wondering if it would be easier but worth it to set up an alternative
energy source like solar or wind to just run the water heater or the Heat
Pump or do those items use so much energy that you are better off just going
for a whole home system?

The most energy my home has used in a month is 1866 KWH. It was when I was
using the Heat Pump a lot March. The least amount of eclectic used for a
month was 738 KWH in October.

It looks like it would take a huge cash layout to get a whole house system
for that kind of usage. So I was wondering if it would be worth it to use
Alternative Energy for just part of the house.

Thanks, David

 

    Unless you have a great local subsidy program to help you pay for your
system, it will likely be a money pit regardless of the size you make it.  If
you include financing costs, opportunity costs, property tax, depreciation &
maintenance, you will never even break even.

   Solar hot water may be an exception to that rule depending on your usage and
local conditions.

   Start out by investing in conservation.  Think about sealing and insulating
your house, maximizing solar gain in the winter and minimizing it in the summer,
seek out and replace all incandescent lighting,  evaluate your 'fridge,  and
evaluate your heating & AC system for replacement with a more efficient unit.

Vaughn

 

Vaughn Simon wrote:


for

summer,

100% agreed.

Graham

 On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:28:26 -0400, "Shy Picker"


It would definitely take a lot for that much use.  My first choice
would be to start reducing loads.  Unless you have a really big
family, 700kWh in a non heating or ac month is about half again as
much as you could be using if you'd just start some energy
conservation.

 Shy Picker wrote:

A lot depends on your location and the weather. If your home is in a
good site with a lot of sun, solar water heating and solar space heating
panels might make good economic sense.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/