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@Spolenski

Ай бұрын

VIA Energy Solutions is great for solar too

Great job Alex! I appreciate you visiting and shooting a video of some of my solar projects. Your editing abilities are far beyond mine. The world needs more people like you spreading the word about clean energy. Keep up the good work!

@footprinthero

Ай бұрын

Thanks Doug, it was a blast getting to meet you and tour your system. I learned a lot!

10Kw a day! that is 1/3 of the average home. He has adopted a lifestyle and embraced technology long before most even started thinking about it. I live in Montana and three years ago started my energy independence journey. The cold and shorter winter solar hours have been the biggest challenge so far. In 2018 i paid 1600$ for electricity, 2020 i had reduced it to 1400$ with changes to my usage. In 2022 after installing small solar systems in my garage and home i paid 650$ and this year after spending a lot of money on 21Kwh of battery storage and about 5.5Kw of panels my electric bill is averaging 35.00 and 20.00 of that is the mandatory connect fee.

@footprinthero

Ай бұрын

Wow that's incredible progress in 3 years, great job!

@AverageJoe2023

Ай бұрын

That’s great. I also live in Montana and just now starting to learn about solar energy

@dlfrestoration

Күн бұрын

In summer my panels produce 90kwh a day and in winter 60 a day. The idea was for there to be 0 limits but still need more battery's for when it's dark out.

We're doing something similarly, with three separate off grid systems, in addition to our relatively small 5.4kW grid tie system. We have a 3.6kW system charging our EV and running a mini-Split in the Garage, a 1.2kW system powering a mini-Split for an 8x14 art studio shed, a 900 watt tool shed system that charges our Ryobi garden tools, and feeds into a UPS in my home office covering the 300 watts my home office uses. The mini-Split and insulation in the garage in central Texas has proven to be efficient enough that we can open the door to the house and cut the house AC kW use in half.

@footprinthero

25 күн бұрын

That's great. If I'm ever out in central Texas I'd love to tour your system

Well done that man! What a wonderful story!

In Australia, power companies exploit solar homes, they just pay 5 cents per kWh we export and they charge 45 cents per kWh if we import and we also pay 1 dollar per day as supply line charge. So big rip off by these Australian companies. Australian are thinking to go just off grid.

Thats amazing. I have a holiday rambler and a 12x14 metal building workshop that each have their own solar power system. 45 kw of lithium and 5 separate solar arrays but this guys definitely got it figured out for sure

Most states, including Illinois, there is a lot of red tape to cut through to sell power to the utility. And the utility company only pays wholesale prices. They pretty much steal your power. It really is not worth the huge investment. Reducing your power bill by removing appliances from the grid is all you can do. It is worth a much smaller investment to install smaller arrays with cheaper inverters and charge controllers that supplies power for individual loads. You can install several cheaper solar setups, one at a time, until you have all your appliances removed from the grid. You do not incur huge payments and interest for the next 20 years. Adding the solar powered mini-split was very helpful in reducing the AC and heating costs year round. Another way to decrease your utility bills is to decrease your water bill. If you use any water at all outside for washing cars, watering lawns, watering gardens, or pressure washing; then consider collecting rain water and using that outside. My wife uses it to fill her pool and clean her pool pump filter. Keep an eye on it and don't use it at all if goes bad. Do not drink or cook with it.

Doug seems amazing! Would love to hear more stories like this

@footprinthero

Ай бұрын

Will do!

Thanks for this video!

@footprinthero

Ай бұрын

You're welcome :)

Im looking at an off grid like the hybrid system. It seems like the power companies just try to scam or underpay the small producers. Then again, my reason for going solar is energy independence.

I did my own in 2016 and it paid for itself in 2 years. My system can make 130 kw a day. My credit is credited to my bill to pay for monthly min.

It’d be great to see what Doug thinks about modern systems. The larger panels, the all in one inverters that allow Grid tied and off grid and 240V split phase and of course the prices for everything.

May I suggest that Doug use solar assistant for his parallel split phase growatt inverter system. No internet needed to monitor and you have all historical data stored on the raspberry pie connected to a separate touchscreen for accessing the info and settings. Keep up the good work.

@DougKalmer

4 күн бұрын

I recently had a friend help me set up wifi from the hybrid inverter, now I can monitor the system from anywhere.

Nice work

@footprinthero

Ай бұрын

Thank you :) Had a lot of fun with this one

Is there any way to contact you directly

This is so cool - Thank you! It's great to re-visit this amazing homestead. Doug is incredibly knowledgeable about this stuff. I did two shows with Doug and Claudia some years back about their passive, thermal and PV solar systems (prior to their battery storage system), the geothermal design of the home built into the hillside as well as thermal mass for passive heating and cooling of the interior and other design features for resilience and efficiency, the greenhouse and more that you might find interesting: Part 1 : kzread.info/dash/bejne/hYGcsc-Cis6diLA.htmlsi=4uKzwlGWzqVOvxLP Part 2: kzread.info/dash/bejne/l2h7rtSxZMLJm9Y.htmlsi=f3LieCQInKHjX7HZ

Just one detail, a hybrid inverter can for sure feed into the grid. Its the off-grid inverters than do not feed to the grid.

@DougKalmer

25 күн бұрын

Mine cannot, but some others can.

Super nice setup!!! I wish I could have there here. Unfortunately, in California under the new NEM 3.0 rules, solar is not worth it unless you have batteries installed as well.

@PeterLawton

25 күн бұрын

For a state that prides itself on leading the country in progress, it's surprising how many extra obstacles to progress California has, compared to other states.

Wow, I was thinking of getting 20 470w panels. I’ll be at a loss, but I want it for a pool heater. Not to make money off of. I suppose then I’ll have less electricity bill sometimes.

Power companies also charge you for delivery and other fees. You may be delivering more than that to the grid, so you still get a small check.

@DougKalmer

Ай бұрын

I have a $22 monthly connection fee.

The average American .he says uses 30kw per day..please explain what the electricity is used for..here in UK average 8 to 12 KW for average home...don't understand why

can you do a DIY set up using microinverters instead of string inverters?

@DougKalmer

Ай бұрын

Possible, but difficult because UL approved microinverters need to sense 240 volts AC before they will work.

🔥🔥🔥

people do this do not go with a solar panel company they are horrible

@DougKalmer

29 күн бұрын

There are some scammers out there, but there are also honest installers. You just have to do your research first.

Publicly available data shows solar in Tennessee will earn about 1300kWh/kw installed, therefore your 4.3kW about 5500kWh/yr. Avg. elec. cost 12.25c/kWh, so value about $685/yr. Typical installs $2-$3/watt so $10-$12,000. Solar life expectancy 25 years. 25 year mortgage about $900/yr. to make $6-700? Inverters will need replacing in 10-12 years, underperforming solar panels....its not something for everyone to rush into, other than rebates which vary from place to place. Rebates....just other peoples money.

@DougKalmer

18 күн бұрын

After TVA's, Green Power Switch program paid me the $10.5K I spent, I still had 2.5 years left on the first 10 years of my contract, which paid me about $3.2K, and 10 more years at net. I am thousands ahead, and it paid for my hybrid system with backup as well. The Green Power Switch program was voluntary, customers added $2 a month to their bill to support solar.

this sounds like solar sales pitch. His 4.6kW of solar in 2011 typically would cost up to $3/watt installed or $$12,000. In most of northern climates this might earn 5000kWh of annual power. Solar panel life expectancy 25 years. A 25 year mortgage would be about $1000/yr payments. If local power is 10c/kWh, solar saves $500. He claims payback in 7 years? You can adjust above for your situation, this is a solar sales pitch. $1000 to save $500?

@DougKalmer

21 күн бұрын

It's not a sales pitch since I'm not selling anything. I am giving away information about the many ways to use solar energy to reduce bills and fossil fuel usage. I am only trying to show my situation, and how well solar has worked out for me. I was quoted over $20K in 2011 for 4.6KW installed. I installed it for half of that, and it has been paying me ever since, and will continue to do so for at least another 13 years. It has been worth far more than you claim. It's all good.

" Now the Power Company Pays HIM" No. His neighbors pay him because the power company loses money on every check they send him!

@DougKalmer

27 күн бұрын

TVA had a program so customers could add $2 a month to their bill to support solar. The funding is entirely voluntary.

@rpsmith

27 күн бұрын

@@DougKalmer -- If it's a 100% funded by voluntary donations, that's awesome!

@danielcarroll3358

4 күн бұрын

The power company pays him wholesale and charges his neighbors retail. That's how the power company makes money. They aren't losing money because of him.

@DougKalmer

4 күн бұрын

@@danielcarroll3358 No, I'm on net which means the utility pays me the same rate as they charge residential customers. It is funded by a voluntary program to support solar.