Hang on a minute, I have to stop laughing at The Husband. He's all aghast and uncomfortably shifting and cringing and telling me I can't say that. Okay, tower height. (Size matters, size matters, size matters. Still snickering.) Seriously though, DETERMINING TOWER HEIGHT. Eighty foot tower or one hundred foot tower? That 'tis the question. Mike would prefer that the turbine NOT be visible over the tree tops from the main road. Heavy sigh from Bheki. And an eye roll.
Enter meeting more neighbors. Mike and I have recently, finally met our neighbors the road over who own the turbine I covet. They have an amazing organic farm: hay and honey. They have an amazing home and buildings: rescued, recycled, and rebuilt. Any and everyone can see their turbine from the main road. While Mike and I are completely enamored and encouraged by the sight of this power producing whirly-gig and breathe a love-sick sigh every time we see it, there are people out there, believe it or not, that do not share our feelings. Which is fine: to each his/her own. However, some people can become quite rude about passionately expressing their feelings and opinions on something they are, quite frankly, ignorant about. While we'd rather not attract any unwanted attention, I want to maximize my return on my investment and get the most power I can from our turbine. Usually, this means the higher up, the stronger the winds. At least, that's my point in the brain storming so far. Remember the rule in brain storming? No laughing, ridiculing, eye-rolling or foofing others' ideas. Apparently, we are going to be getting a few balloons, tying them to a one hundred foot string, and hoping they float up high enough to make the string taunt while we drive up and down the main road to see if we can see the balloons. The backup plan is a kite. Sorry, eye-rolls are really hard to control. I'll let you know how it goes.
Showing posts with label Wind Power Project 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wind Power Project 2012. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Not so minor detail
I guess, while we're in the Red Tape and Paperwork Phase of the GREAT WIND POWER PROJECT 2012, I could answer what has to be a burning question, keeping everyone up late at night by now, I'm sure. In other words, I just realized that I never clearly and concisely - the goal of communication - reported what exactly we have selected as our small wind power system. Sorry. So without further ado, the GREAT WIND POWER PROJECT 2012 Small Wind Power System Specs:
Bergey Excel 1 (1kW)
Bergey Tilt-up guyed tower (Bergey refers to this as a "tubular" tower on their site.)
Powercenter charge controller
We are still going back and forth between the 80 and 100 foot tower. Rather, The Husband is doing his usual back and forth agonizing decision making process. I would like it noted for the record that I voted for the 100 foot tower. I also really wanted a lattice tower but the budget vetoed that. It is cheaper to get this tilt-up tower and a VersaClimber rather than using a lattice tower as a VersaClimber.
The turbine does NOT require a "dump load" for over production, however, it is an option. Ideally, we could use more hot water. Specifically, I'd like some hot water in the Summer. A tidy, but bit pricey, solution would be to change out our current boiler tank for the model that includes the ability to add an electric heating element to it. Another option is to just install an electric hot water tank. However, this not only takes up more floor space in the Mechanical Room but I'd have two hot water systems working independently. Good or bad? Not sure. An initial thought is that with a heating element in the boiler tank, in the Summer, I could have the wind (and excess photovoltaic that we currently over produce in the Summer) make hot water in the boiler tank. In the Winter, when I've got fires going, I'd get my usual up to 107 degree water in the boiler tank. With the turbine spinning in the Winter, I could get a little kick in the heating element in the boiler tank. If I could get that tank to heat up to at least 125, I could start running my in-floor, radiant loops in the bathroom. If things get really hot, I could also heat the front porch. If things get too hot, we'll melt the snow outside (dump zone for the boiler). Not too worried about that. All of those initial thoughts need to be considered with the initial thoughts on the possibility of expanding the hot water system further with a solar hot water heating system. Does everyone's brain hurt now? If you can gut it out a little further with me here, add in the variable to the equation that we really don't know exactly if and or how this will work. The whole "results may vary" thing. We consider all of these thoughts to fall under the blanket term "brain storming" and we're not allowed to make fun of each other when we brain storm. Yes, I'm asking you to please not make fun of me. This is the kind of behind the forehead and in between the ears stuff that everyone trying to do this alternative energy (or anything else for that matter) is going to have to go through. If you are in the dreaming and planning stage, feel free to borrow our brain storming rule. It really opens up the mind for lots of ideas and you will find your solution(s).
I'll get into more nitty, gritty details on decisions, how's, why's, etc. in the coming days. I just wanted to get this minor detail out ASAP. Schew, now we can all sleep better. ; )
Bergey Tilt-up guyed tower (Bergey refers to this as a "tubular" tower on their site.)
Powercenter charge controller
We are still going back and forth between the 80 and 100 foot tower. Rather, The Husband is doing his usual back and forth agonizing decision making process. I would like it noted for the record that I voted for the 100 foot tower. I also really wanted a lattice tower but the budget vetoed that. It is cheaper to get this tilt-up tower and a VersaClimber rather than using a lattice tower as a VersaClimber.
The turbine does NOT require a "dump load" for over production, however, it is an option. Ideally, we could use more hot water. Specifically, I'd like some hot water in the Summer. A tidy, but bit pricey, solution would be to change out our current boiler tank for the model that includes the ability to add an electric heating element to it. Another option is to just install an electric hot water tank. However, this not only takes up more floor space in the Mechanical Room but I'd have two hot water systems working independently. Good or bad? Not sure. An initial thought is that with a heating element in the boiler tank, in the Summer, I could have the wind (and excess photovoltaic that we currently over produce in the Summer) make hot water in the boiler tank. In the Winter, when I've got fires going, I'd get my usual up to 107 degree water in the boiler tank. With the turbine spinning in the Winter, I could get a little kick in the heating element in the boiler tank. If I could get that tank to heat up to at least 125, I could start running my in-floor, radiant loops in the bathroom. If things get really hot, I could also heat the front porch. If things get too hot, we'll melt the snow outside (dump zone for the boiler). Not too worried about that. All of those initial thoughts need to be considered with the initial thoughts on the possibility of expanding the hot water system further with a solar hot water heating system. Does everyone's brain hurt now? If you can gut it out a little further with me here, add in the variable to the equation that we really don't know exactly if and or how this will work. The whole "results may vary" thing. We consider all of these thoughts to fall under the blanket term "brain storming" and we're not allowed to make fun of each other when we brain storm. Yes, I'm asking you to please not make fun of me. This is the kind of behind the forehead and in between the ears stuff that everyone trying to do this alternative energy (or anything else for that matter) is going to have to go through. If you are in the dreaming and planning stage, feel free to borrow our brain storming rule. It really opens up the mind for lots of ideas and you will find your solution(s).
I'll get into more nitty, gritty details on decisions, how's, why's, etc. in the coming days. I just wanted to get this minor detail out ASAP. Schew, now we can all sleep better. ; )
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Here we go!
Is everybody ready? I think I'll use the same disclaimer I use when someone gets in the passenger seat of the Jeep: Please fasten your seatbelt, remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop, and NO screaming. Everybody securely fastened? 3....2....1....
The official GREAT WIND POWER PROJECT 2012 has begun! The WIND POWER TOWER is going in this Spring!
Because we're going to be digging and dumping concrete, we thought it most efficient and economical to dig and dump in a couple more spots in the yard while all the equipment and guys are here. The plan is for the posts for the deck off the back of the main level of the cabin to go in so a small concrete patio can be poured behind the cabin at the garden (or ground) level (remember, we've got that whole walk-out basement thing going on). Then we're going to spill a little more concrete just Southeast of the cabin for a....drum roll....FREAKIN' ART STUDIO FOR MOI! Just a little excited about the studio too. I had set up the Garden Level of the cabin as a painting studio. Between me and the feLIONs, it looks like we were visited by the ghost of Jackson Pollock. I tried to find space in our town for a studio but it became really frustrating. I gave up on the idea of a studio. With the new year, we started talking about what we'd like to work on. The topic of the turbine came up. When I conceded to play by the rules and go through zoning, we felt ready to take the leap and start the GREAT WIND POWER PROJECT 2012. Like I said, one concrete pile leads to the next and Mike suggested we put in the slab for the ART STUDIO.
I have emailed my favorite general contractor, Lonnie, of LR Contracting, Hancock, MI. We are penciled in for this Spring.
We have re-read, again, the five (5) pages of stuff that the township wants us to submit for their permission to do what we want on our property. Mike has a call in to Bergey for more information on what is included on their tower drawings. Zoning wants the tower drawings. We're hoping a contractor can work off these drawings for installation too. While Mike is working on the five (5) pages of stuff for zoning, I'm working on my own pile of stuff to get together for Lonnie for estimating. I have to finalize a couple of details on the Studio so I can go in to 41 Lumber for a materials list and estimate. I've had the drawings for the deck off the cabin since 2009. So, here we go!
photo credit: www.bergey.com
The official GREAT WIND POWER PROJECT 2012 has begun! The WIND POWER TOWER is going in this Spring!
Because we're going to be digging and dumping concrete, we thought it most efficient and economical to dig and dump in a couple more spots in the yard while all the equipment and guys are here. The plan is for the posts for the deck off the back of the main level of the cabin to go in so a small concrete patio can be poured behind the cabin at the garden (or ground) level (remember, we've got that whole walk-out basement thing going on). Then we're going to spill a little more concrete just Southeast of the cabin for a....drum roll....FREAKIN' ART STUDIO FOR MOI! Just a little excited about the studio too. I had set up the Garden Level of the cabin as a painting studio. Between me and the feLIONs, it looks like we were visited by the ghost of Jackson Pollock. I tried to find space in our town for a studio but it became really frustrating. I gave up on the idea of a studio. With the new year, we started talking about what we'd like to work on. The topic of the turbine came up. When I conceded to play by the rules and go through zoning, we felt ready to take the leap and start the GREAT WIND POWER PROJECT 2012. Like I said, one concrete pile leads to the next and Mike suggested we put in the slab for the ART STUDIO.
I have emailed my favorite general contractor, Lonnie, of LR Contracting, Hancock, MI. We are penciled in for this Spring.
We have re-read, again, the five (5) pages of stuff that the township wants us to submit for their permission to do what we want on our property. Mike has a call in to Bergey for more information on what is included on their tower drawings. Zoning wants the tower drawings. We're hoping a contractor can work off these drawings for installation too. While Mike is working on the five (5) pages of stuff for zoning, I'm working on my own pile of stuff to get together for Lonnie for estimating. I have to finalize a couple of details on the Studio so I can go in to 41 Lumber for a materials list and estimate. I've had the drawings for the deck off the cabin since 2009. So, here we go!
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