BentleyJ
Solar Wizard
I understand this forum is for DIY Solar, I hope its OK to go off topic a little for educational purposes. This comparison is based on Nat Gas usage.
This post is mostly aimed towards new forum members and anyone who is lurking and/or here still learning. Long time forum members and contributors already know this so probably nothing here for you unless you're bored.
Often times we see posts here on the forum from members who have rather high utility usage and immediately want to design a massive, overpriced solar system to reduce or eliminate their bills. In doing so they have completely over looked the possibility of being able to lower consumption WITHOUT changing their lifestyle or comfort level and without spending $50,000 on a system. So in the interest of saving time, I'll skip to the conclusion first with details to follow if anyone is interested.
Efficiency Matters, a lot, and its even more important when utility rates are increasing at multiples of the inflation rate.
Cost Comparison:
1) 1,900 sq ft. typical track house in Southern CA built in 1988. Added onto, customized, weatherized and upgraded with the highest efficiency, commonly available consumer brands. Average monthly Nat Gas bill for Winter months last 5 years, $50 to $75. Last month bill, $204.
2) Sister-in-Law's 1200sq ft, 1980;s manufactured home in the same City. $300.
Perhaps $100 doesn't seem like that much more but compare it on a square footage basis and the divergence is much greater. Actually its more than double. It doesn't take too many months of saving $100+ to get pay back on the cost of high efficiency appliances.
Another point worth mentioning, we quite frequently use Nat Gas in our wood burning fireplace. Low flame just to keep the wood nice and red producing radiant heat, many times for 10 to 12 hrs straight yet our bill was still affordable without having to turn down the tstat to 60 deg.
Here is the list of items that were improved at the same time solar was added to the house.
LED lighting
Upgraded insulation
95% Condensing Furnace with ECM blower motor.
18 SEER condenser also with ECM fan motor.
New R-8 ductwork
95% condensing tankless water heater.
Front loading washing machine, uses less hot water.
Pentair 1.5HP VFD pump for the backyard water fall.
Weather strip all exterior doors to stop air infiltration.
Seal other interior building penetrations: Electrical boxes in the walls and ceilings, bathroom exhaust fans, recessed lighting cans, under cabinet through wall plumbing, attic access panels, HVAC registers. IMHO, this is an important one that is often overlooked. Go around the house sometime and count penetrations. A little leakage at each one is a big deal.
Bottom line all these details matter and a couple rolls of foam weather stripping, caulking and drywall path don't cost much.
This post is mostly aimed towards new forum members and anyone who is lurking and/or here still learning. Long time forum members and contributors already know this so probably nothing here for you unless you're bored.
Often times we see posts here on the forum from members who have rather high utility usage and immediately want to design a massive, overpriced solar system to reduce or eliminate their bills. In doing so they have completely over looked the possibility of being able to lower consumption WITHOUT changing their lifestyle or comfort level and without spending $50,000 on a system. So in the interest of saving time, I'll skip to the conclusion first with details to follow if anyone is interested.
Efficiency Matters, a lot, and its even more important when utility rates are increasing at multiples of the inflation rate.
Cost Comparison:
1) 1,900 sq ft. typical track house in Southern CA built in 1988. Added onto, customized, weatherized and upgraded with the highest efficiency, commonly available consumer brands. Average monthly Nat Gas bill for Winter months last 5 years, $50 to $75. Last month bill, $204.
2) Sister-in-Law's 1200sq ft, 1980;s manufactured home in the same City. $300.
Perhaps $100 doesn't seem like that much more but compare it on a square footage basis and the divergence is much greater. Actually its more than double. It doesn't take too many months of saving $100+ to get pay back on the cost of high efficiency appliances.
Another point worth mentioning, we quite frequently use Nat Gas in our wood burning fireplace. Low flame just to keep the wood nice and red producing radiant heat, many times for 10 to 12 hrs straight yet our bill was still affordable without having to turn down the tstat to 60 deg.
Here is the list of items that were improved at the same time solar was added to the house.
LED lighting
Upgraded insulation
95% Condensing Furnace with ECM blower motor.
18 SEER condenser also with ECM fan motor.
New R-8 ductwork
95% condensing tankless water heater.
Front loading washing machine, uses less hot water.
Pentair 1.5HP VFD pump for the backyard water fall.
Weather strip all exterior doors to stop air infiltration.
Seal other interior building penetrations: Electrical boxes in the walls and ceilings, bathroom exhaust fans, recessed lighting cans, under cabinet through wall plumbing, attic access panels, HVAC registers. IMHO, this is an important one that is often overlooked. Go around the house sometime and count penetrations. A little leakage at each one is a big deal.
Bottom line all these details matter and a couple rolls of foam weather stripping, caulking and drywall path don't cost much.
