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Calculate Generator Wattage Needs

May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Alternative Power ~ Generators

Before you buy a generator to use for powering appliances and electrical devices when the grid goes down, it’s important to first determine wattage needs.  Everything in the house has different requirements, and–depending on the time of year–not everything may need to be powered.

Using this great calculator from consumer reports, you can determine what you want to power, how many things will be running at the same time, and calculate the size of the generator needed.  Remember, things like space heaters, hair dryers, and toasters require a TON of wattage….it may be a good idea to see if you can find alternatives for power suckers like those.

Calculator

 

Let me know what you discover? How big does your generator need to be? We run the house off 5000 Watts.  Stay tuned for details on how we rigged our setup.

Filed Under: Emergency Prep, Survival Tagged With: , , , ,

Online Solar Estimate Tool

July 29, 2011 By 1 Comment

Have you heard about 1BOG? It’s a community of users working together to bring solar to their neighborhood at cheaper prices through quantity. Basically, the more users who are interested in solar, the cheaper the price.

It takes a certain number of users in an area to tip a deal (think Groupon) and SLC is still lagging behind. Are you signed up for your area (tip the deal for your neighbors, even if you’re not interested…)

Now they have a new tool to estimate your monthly solar savings. You input you address and it pulls up a google earth map, you outline your roof, indicate the compass orientation, and it tells you how much you’d save with solar generating a portion of your energy. Pretty cool.

(At current rates, it will still take me 25 years to pay off the panels, at my $40/month savings, but as more people get solar, the price will continue to drop)

What’s your savings?

Online Solar Estimate Tool – Estimate Solar Panel Cost | 1BOG.org.

Jen

Filed Under: Solar Tagged With: , ,

Power Outage and The Tuesday Train~April 26

April 25, 2011 By 2 Comments

Power. It’s not just for breakfast.

power pylon, power grid,

Image: tungphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Now that we’re headed in to Spring (at least according to the calendar) the need for emergency power should be decreasing. I don’t need it to keep us warm, and I can BBQ outside, so cooking would be handled. There’s no snow between the house and the trailer, so I have access to all my camping equipment.

So why would I need back-up power in the summer?

I would need it for my computer.

…and not just for posting on facebook…

My battery only lasts 2.5 hours (IF I’m fully charged!) Half the time I leave the laptop unplugged, so it’s hardly ever fully charged. If we had a storm or other disaster knock out my power, I’d have a tough time.

Since I work from home – this could be a MAJOR issue.

How would a power outage impact your day? Would it be business as usual? What electronic appliances would be affected? Would it make a difference if the outage was on a weekend?

Take a Ride on the Train!

tuesday train blog hop linky

Tuesday Train is a weekly link-up hosted by My Mad Mind and The Survival Mama and The House on the Corner and With “Faith, Family, and Friends!” Here’s how it works:

  • Follow all the hostess and co-hostesses (first through fourth spot on the linky)
  • Leave a comment if you’re a new follower and I will follow back.
  • Include the link-up button in your post!
  • Link up your blog post for “Tuesday Train”.

While you’re at it, be sure to swing over and see Boobies and the Follow Me Back Tuesday hop.

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What’s Next?

April 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

What’s on your sustainability list?

Back-up Generator?

Solar Power?

Water Storage?

Goats?

Greenhouse?

Seed Storage?

Image: scottchan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What’s holding you back?

Filed Under: Sustainability Tagged With: , , ,

Last Nail in Nuclear’s Coffin?

March 23, 2011 By 1 Comment

So long nuclear….

death rate per kilowatts of energy

If you subscribe to Seth Godin’s Blog, then you’ve already seen this image. If not, take a guess what you think the big box on the right indicates? Do you think it’s nuclear or coal? ANSWER

Beyond the human death toll happening in Japan, I’m saddened by another death, one that hasn’t been announced, but one I fear is in the minds of a lot of people. I fear the death of nuclear as an energy source. I’ve learned a lot about nuclear over the last few weeks, along with a few other alternative fuels. Here’s a tidbit that blew me away: To supply even 20 percent of the electricity in the US from terrestrial wind (windmills) you would have to cover the state of Kansas with 1.5 megawatt turbines spaced as closely as you could. (Corwin Hardham, Makani Power)

THE. ENTIRE. STATE. OF. KANSAS.

I don’t know if there is a right answer to meet the ever increasing demand….but nuclear was a great one IMO. What do you think?

Here’s the article about death toll per energy source.

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Filed Under: Survival, Sustainability Tagged With: ,