On 14 May 2021 at 9:12, jim--- via EV wrote: > A 3 KW solar array would hardly make a dent at my house.
I read years ago that when you're considering a PV system, the first step is to review your energy use and find where you can reduce it. Obviously the more you can cut it, the less your system will cost. This also applies to EV folks planning renewable transportation. You have to pay attention to your EV's energy use when building or choosing it. So it seems to me that you have to look at what you can do. Maybe your kid really loves his fish and reptiles but it's worth noting that non-tropical fish can also be enjoyable, and that cats and dogs and other mammals are self-heating. :-) I don't know what you mean by, or have in, your "data cabinet" - but choosing infotech equipment based on energy use is important, as is locating it where natural cooling is possible. For example (this may not be possible for you) a laptop with a low-power processor located in a cellar will use a lot less energy than a desktop processor in a second storey room that has to be cooled by aircon. If you gear is in a closet, even relocating to an open shelf in a lightly used room can help. Solid state drives use less energy than spinning disks. Switching power supplies are usually more efficient than old fashioned linear wall warts. There are many more ways to win the energy race in this category. As for your waterbed heater, I don't want to offend but my first thought was that 400 watts seems awfully high. You emit around 100 watts of heat all on your own; add a companion and you're already at 50% of the heater's output. I understand that waterbeds have benefits for some people but a good quality foam mattress on the bed and a comforter on top needs only your own body heat to provide outstanding comfort. On extra-cold nights, one or two of those dogs and/or cats can add a few bonus watts. :-) I don't mean to be critical, so please don't take offense, but here in the US we use about 12.2 megawatt hours of electricity per person per year. With a slightly more temperate climate and much less fuel gas use, France uses 6.7 MWh per capita (45% less) and the chilly, grey UK only about 4.5 MWh per capita (63% less). France and UK are certainly not third-world nations nor is life uncomfortable in either place. So I think that we have a lot of room for efficiency improvements here. Just my opinion of course but in today's world It seems to me that it's getting increasingly difficult to justify our all-American wholesale squandering of resources. EVs can help, thanks to their vastly better efficiency, but there is much more to be done. David Roden, EVDL moderator & general lackey To reach me, don't reply to this message; I won't get it. Use my offlist address here : http://evdl.org/help/index.html#supt = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = I LIKE paying taxes. With them, I buy civilization. -- Oliver Wendell Holmes = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = _______________________________________________ Address messages to [email protected] No other addresses in TO and CC fields UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/ LIST INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org
