Dave Davis' Hot Water contraption
Dave called in and told me about his solar water heater arrangement. You can read the letter attached to the pictures and look at how he is taking actual dollars off his power bill.
Hey Ray! Photos attached re my solar water heater installation: exterior and interior views. As noted earlier, we converted to100% fluorescent lighting some time ago. We use air conditioning sparingly: normally for sleeping only, and periodically in other areas overnight to dehumidify.
I recently reduced the inside temp drastically (by probably at least 10 degrees) by cleaning the roof. The white coating is in very good condition, so I anticipate little additional benefit when I soon apply another coat of paint. My power bill is now under $200, and we don't skimp on lighting, electrics and electronics (three computers, three printers, three refrigerators, two freezers, etc.) and other energy users. I seldom use the range oven, relying on 2 microwave ovens and a toaster oven. I also have dusk-to-dawn security lighting (fluorescent) front and rear. As for coconut husks on the roof: it doesn't seem like a viable solution to me. There'd have to be some means of securing whatever goes up there or your house becomes a residential missile launcher in a storm. There are certainly other, more rational ways of insulating a roof at reasonable expense. Let me know what you think of all this.
Looks kinda Mad Max if you ask me, but then economy is rarely pretty.
posted by Ray Gibson at
10:27 AM
