12-27-13, 03:28 PM | #1 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
2014 new years resolutions / goals
Last year I wanted to get my office and solar hot water setup done... well progress was made, but neither are done yet. So, I am going to go with those two again. If I get to another thing that is awesome haha.
I will add that I want to keep my energy use at or below the current level it was at this year. This is going to be tricky, but I think with some effort doable. It will be a lot easier if I get the solar hot water setup done as that'll save some pretty serious electric usage (and coin too yay). So, what are some of your goals for this coming year?
__________________
Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
12-28-13, 04:46 PM | #2 |
Apprentice EcoRenovator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 102
Thanks: 11
Thanked 15 Times in 10 Posts
|
I have accumulated a number of components/pieces to put together a small PV system to provide some of our home lighting. This year I would like to complete this system, especially because of the ice storm that has struck our neighbours south of us in the Toronto area. I think that at least having light during outages must be comforting.
|
01-03-14, 01:28 PM | #3 |
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
|
I want to continue to add things to conserve power. I want to get closer to NetZero. To do this I need to carry more net metering solar credits from the summer to winter.
Last edited by pinballlooking; 01-03-14 at 01:33 PM.. |
01-03-14, 05:52 PM | #4 |
Lurking Renovator
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Austria
Posts: 25
Thanks: 1
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Finish my ASHP to WSHP conversion and build myself some solar panels with ebay cells. Getting close to being off grid and it is an amazing feeling.
|
01-17-14, 03:26 PM | #5 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
Anyone else?
__________________
Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
01-17-14, 06:54 PM | #6 |
Less usage=Cheaper bills
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 940
Thanks: 41
Thanked 117 Times in 91 Posts
|
To summarize, its solar, then the start of a long term plan of superinsulation retrofit.
I have family and friends who have said to upgrade to the condensing furnace and new AC first but I have different plans, ones that will pay off even more than exchanging the current equipment and without the huge upgrade cost. I already know that I've saved more in air sealing so far than what the upgrade from a 1985 natural draft furnace to a condensing furnace can do. I think I'll continue with the same furnace and use it as the test bed to see if skipping the natural gas entirely will allow me to pay less money in total. I have too much to list, when I get the time I'm going to create a thread. I had a previous new year's thread of a new smaller home built to the standard of a 5000BTUhr heat load. I've determined that building a new home isn't really what I want, the commission costs of selling the house feels wasteful and I like the house I'm in now so it makes more sense to me to work with what I have. More to come in another thread. |
01-20-14, 07:04 AM | #7 |
Too Many Projects
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: georgia
Posts: 91
Thanks: 0
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts
|
Insulation and air sealing. The meager improvements I made the previous winter paid off so well I intend to finish the job this year.
I bought the house in 1998, started a major remodel in 2000, and it is still a work in progress. My long term resolution is to never again buy a project house. |
01-21-14, 05:06 PM | #8 |
Lurking Renovator
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 3
Thanks: 4
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
my resolution is to stop procrastinating, I'm going to start next week or the week after that.
|
01-22-14, 09:31 AM | #9 |
Helper EcoRenovator
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 91
Thanks: 47
Thanked 20 Times in 13 Posts
|
I have a possible opportunity to get a huge amount of surplus materials from a job.
I have a plan in mind for a huge shop. I'd dig in geothermal heat for both the house and the shop when I had the excavator here. It all hinges on getting approval from the county, and getting the materials. |
01-27-14, 12:46 PM | #10 |
Journeyman EcoRenovator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arab, AL
Posts: 491
Thanks: 109
Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts
|
I plan to build the staircase in our never-ending barn project, add insulation in the downstairs ceiling/upstairs floor and get the subfloor installed. I'll throw in roughing in the plumbing for the upstairs utility sink for extra credit.
|
|
|