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Post by Adelard of Bath on Aug 23, 2023 17:06:54 GMT -5
Well it was 99 degrees here in Minnesota. Then it clicked up to 100. Yay.
"Feels like 106" the thing says.
I think it was more humid yesterday, but it only got up to like 93 or 94.
My sister, who has a much newer house than mine (10 years old? Ours is from 1957) said that their AC can't keep up and the house was 74. I couldn't believe it because mine chugs away at 68 all day. Sometimes we go 67. It doesn't even run constantly, either.
She blames it on the fact that they don't have trees...I remind her that a) I can see sunlight through the wood front door and b) if you hold your hand about an inch from our vintage 1957 windows, you can feel the heat.
Oh and I came home and there was moisture dripping from the wall right under the drop-down ladder that goes into the attic! I put my hand up near that and holy smokes, the heat was coming out of there. So the humidity must also be coming in there and condensing on that wall. Great.
I put a fan on it. I'll have to see about sealing that up better some day. I'm sure it would be a good thing in the winter. Add that to my list...in the column labeled "things I will probably never do"
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Post by helenabear on Aug 23, 2023 17:55:51 GMT -5
Maybe they need better insulation. Our 1940s house keeps up with the 100 degree temps though I do not run it that low - too cold lol.
The fun days of shuttling kids around has begun. I'm already tired and annoyed.
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Post by disney54us on Aug 24, 2023 16:02:45 GMT -5
I had old 100 year old house (previous home) this is a new built. But AC in old house was fine. It had dual zone so that helps. Though in the winter brrr. I think the insulation in the attic was R6! The walls were plaster and once that first Fall cooler weather came in those walls were ice cold to touch and stayed cold till Spring.
I would be freezing if my AC was set to 68, I usually keep at 73,74 even when we were having those 100 degree days I maybe would drop it down to 72. Trees do make a difference but sounds more like a HVAC issue if she has the temp set lower that 74 but the temp is 74.
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Post by brp on Aug 24, 2023 16:07:05 GMT -5
My sister, who has a much newer house than mine (10 years old? Ours is from 1957) said that their AC can't keep up and the house was 74. I couldn't believe it because mine chugs away at 68 all day. Sometimes we go 67. It doesn't even run constantly, either. We set 74 and the house can stay there into the mid-90s outside. But then the AC is on all the time.
We have large living room windows (and have built curtains for them since they're angled) with a direct south facing view. We have trees on site, but they are on the hillside and we have an unobstructed view of the sun, so it gets hot. It's great for solar as our rating is like a 97/100. And then we use that solar to run the AC. 
On hotter days we can use upwards of 60-70 kWh for the house. And generate maybe 64 kWh or so. Some grid some storage.
Cheers.
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Post by disney54us on Aug 24, 2023 17:34:42 GMT -5
My sister, who has a much newer house than mine (10 years old? Ours is from 1957) said that their AC can't keep up and the house was 74. I couldn't believe it because mine chugs away at 68 all day. Sometimes we go 67. It doesn't even run constantly, either. We set 74 and the house can stay there into the mid-90s outside. But then the AC is on all the time.
We have large living room windows (and have built curtains for them since they're angled) with a direct south facing view. We have trees on site, but they are on the hillside and we have an unobstructed view of the sun, so it gets hot. It's great for solar as our rating is like a 97/100. And then we use that solar to run the AC.
On hotter days we can use upwards of 60-70 kWh for the house. And generate maybe 64 kWh or so. Some grid some storage.
Cheers.
Curious, do you get an electric bill? Does company buy back.
do you have guarantees on when your credits, are used/cut off. I ask that because recently, I read an article about a restaurant here had gone solar, several years ago. he did not take what ever was offered from the state. He borrowed from his life insurance policy, based on it would save him money he would get his money back. Apparently the power company, changed the rules, and how credits are issued where the original credit month that worked for over high bill months, they changed it. It seems there are numerous complaints. Basically they got screwed by the power company.
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Post by brp on Aug 24, 2023 18:41:27 GMT -5
We set 74 and the house can stay there into the mid-90s outside. But then the AC is on all the time. We have large living room windows (and have built curtains for them since they're angled) with a direct south facing view. We have trees on site, but they are on the hillside and we have an unobstructed view of the sun, so it gets hot. It's great for solar as our rating is like a 97/100. And then we use that solar to run the AC. On hotter days we can use upwards of 60-70 kWh for the house. And generate maybe 64 kWh or so. Some grid some storage.
Cheers. Curious, do you get an electric bill? Does company buy back. do you have guarantees on when your credits, are used/cut off. I ask that because recently, I read an article about a restaurant here had gone solar, several years ago. he did not take what ever was offered from the state. He borrowed from his life insurance policy, based on it would save him money he would get his money back. Apparently the power company, changed the rules, and how credits are issued where the original credit month that worked for over high bill months, they changed it. It seems there are numerous complaints. Basically they got screwed by the power company.
OK, you have multi quote working, but single quote needs some work. I fixed your post in the reply. If you toggle to BBCode, it makes it easier to see what's going on
Yes, they buy back the extra, albeit at a reduced rate. We do get a bill, and there is a $12/month minimum on electric (plus any gas). They tabulate our overproduction and we get a check at the end of the calculation year.
We are actually using a third party and they pay a little better than the utility (2X the wholesale rate). So, we have to try and use our power (solar + battery) in the peak times as they charge at peak rates, but will only reimburse at 2X wholesale. They used to pay retail, but that was untenable.
So, we still get a check, but we can maximize if we tailor use.
However, I got an EV in October, so now some of the power goes there and our check will be smaller.
Cheers.
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Post by disney54us on Aug 24, 2023 19:18:42 GMT -5
Curious, do you get an electric bill? Does company buy back. do you have guarantees on when your credits, are used/cut off. I ask that because recently, I read an article about a restaurant here had gone solar, several years ago. he did not take what ever was offered from the state. He borrowed from his life insurance policy, based on it would save him money he would get his money back. Apparently the power company, changed the rules, and how credits are issued where the original credit month that worked for over high bill months, they changed it. It seems there are numerous complaints. Basically they got screwed by the power company. OK, you have multi quote working, but single quote needs some work. I fixed your post in the reply. If you toggle to BBCode, it makes it easier to see what's going on Yes, they buy back the extra, albeit at a reduced rate. We do get a bill, and there is a $12/month minimum on electric (plus any gas). They tabulate our overproduction and we get a check at the end of the calculation year. We are actually using a third party and they pay a little better than the utility (2X the wholesale rate). So, we have to try and use our power (solar + battery) in the peak times as they charge at peak rates, but will only reimburse at 2X wholesale. They used to pay retail, but that was untenable. So, we still get a check, but we can maximize if we tailor use. However, I got an EV in October, so now some of the power goes there and our check will be smaller. Cheers. I thought I did BBCode, you told me that before. Thanks for the fix, but I’m not going to go there how you do that either. Hec guess so excited I finally multi quoted .not sure I can do that again. I was wondering because I’ve heard of those who ended up with not what they were promised. When I read about the long term, large family restaurant and that he didn’t take any money from state and the power company I can just say, hey no you’re not getting what we promised. I found that sad. I don’t even eat there, lol. Had breakfast once it was decent. But it’s been a landmark and very large. He contributes to the town and employs many. Though for the life of me I cannot see where the panels are. But he has a slanted roof so maybe facing the bay.. $12 dollars is nice…. I’m just thrilled with my utility bills since moving.my PSE&G was a mortgage on a vacation condo or a luxury car Payment. For what I use to pay prior to move. |
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Post by bakerworld on Aug 25, 2023 8:00:56 GMT -5
My BIL from SC told us last weekend that he keeps his AC at 78. DH immediately said, "No!" LOL
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Post by disney54us on Aug 25, 2023 11:14:25 GMT -5
Okay 78 is a bit to warm for me but I did just raise mine to 75 because I was getting chilly. When my daughter visits she likes it super cold I would say freezing, her house is like an ice box. Our AC is dual zone she will drop the AC upstairs to 70, meanwhile Our bedroom is downstairs I will check the downstairs thermostat and it will say it’s 71 degrees (I have it set to 73, 74) the upstairs has a open loft with a half wall so that AC comes blowing down and then I’m freezing. One time I was sitting on my back screened in porch and I could feel the cool air from AC blowing out. I usually sneak up at night and raise the temp a few degrees, lol
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Post by brp on Aug 25, 2023 12:22:24 GMT -5
OK, you have multi quote working, but single quote needs some work. I fixed your post in the reply. If you toggle to BBCode, it makes it easier to see what's going on Yes, they buy back the extra, albeit at a reduced rate. We do get a bill, and there is a $12/month minimum on electric (plus any gas). They tabulate our overproduction and we get a check at the end of the calculation year. We are actually using a third party and they pay a little better than the utility (2X the wholesale rate). So, we have to try and use our power (solar + battery) in the peak times as they charge at peak rates, but will only reimburse at 2X wholesale. They used to pay retail, but that was untenable. So, we still get a check, but we can maximize if we tailor use. However, I got an EV in October, so now some of the power goes there and our check will be smaller. Cheers. I was wondering because I’ve heard of those who ended up with not what they were promised. When I read about the long term, large family restaurant and that he didn’t take any money from state and the power company I can just say, hey no you’re not getting what we promised. I found that sad. I don’t even eat there, lol. `I can't speak to the case of the restaurant but, for us, we were not "promised" anything. Well, except for the power ratings of the panels themselves. There were certain things in place with the utilities when we started, and they have changed. But there was never a promise that they wouldn't.
Since, in our case, the utility had nothing to do with the panel installation (and I'd be surprised if they did in the restaurant case), changes by the utility should be unrelated to what the installer may have "promised."
I don't know the details, so these are just thoughts based on our experience. Not sure what, specifically, applies.
Cheers.
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Post by disney54us on Aug 25, 2023 12:27:16 GMT -5
The power company was the one with the promises of ‘buy back’ and credits that phased out and changing the credit months. I read the story but it was a few months ago so my details are foggy. I know they were not the only ones effective and there is talk about meetings with the power co and legislators.
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Post by brp on Aug 25, 2023 12:31:21 GMT -5
The power company was the one with the promises of ‘buy back’ and credits that phased out and changing the credit months. I read the story but it was a few months ago so my details are foggy. I know they were not the only ones effective and there is talk about meetings with the power co and legislators. Power companies are inherently slimy. A neighbor of ours works actively for solar and against the power company. His comment was that it is in their best interest to kill rooftop solar, so their actions are aligned with that.
Cheers.
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Aug 25, 2023 15:24:16 GMT -5
His comment was that it is in their best interest to kill rooftop solar, so their actions are aligned with that. This does make sense. They are in the business of selling electricity. But, to look at it from another direction, they will always have plenty of customers, like all the tall buildings and factories and stuff like that, there's no way they would have enough solar on their roofs to cover their needs the way an individual house might. So buildings like that will always need to buy electricity. And the electric company will always need to buy electricity, whether they run their own generators or buy it off the line. So if they are buying it from individual homes on their own grid...well that's nothing more than a predictable source at a price they can control. And it can help them from having to spend money upgrading their grids etc. But in the short term, solar on your roof makes you the enemy, so watch out for those robot birds that will poop all over your roof! |
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Post by Brian5581 on Aug 25, 2023 15:34:42 GMT -5
My BIL from SC told us last weekend that he keeps his AC at 78. DH immediately said, "No!" LOL My response would be stronger than a single word. Multiple curses preceding the no, in fact. 68 year-round in my Florida abode. It ain't cheap. But it's of utmost importance to me. |
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Post by disney54us on Aug 25, 2023 22:00:06 GMT -5
My BIL from SC told us last weekend that he keeps his AC at 78. DH immediately said, "No!" LOL My response would be stronger than a single word. Multiple curses preceding the no, in fact. 68 year-round in my Florida abode. It ain't cheap. But it's of utmost importance to me. All year? Really that’s cold. I realize from reading you don’t like the heat, though you moved to FL…..if I remember correctly you live in Jerrzee I use to live there too and I can remember some years being in our third ‘official’ heat wave by the third week of July. With them showing it was cooler in Fl. So you had to be used to hot and humid. It gets cooler in certain months in Fl. 68 all year. Don’t you get cold during certain months? Some months drop, to the 60’s a rare cold weather front dips into the 40’s or 50’s. You are just a bit south of where my son lived, college years. I remember they were getting a ‘cold front’ I asked if he put the heat on in his apt. He said no, it’s warm all day with the sun shining in if we keep the blinds, curtains open it heats the house so no heat. But 68 all year and on cold nights….. brrr….. I hate the cold. |
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