fossil fuel free

Mikesolar · 10-17-20, 07:41 PM

Not sure where to put this so I stuck it here.

First, the 1958 house had a standard natural draft gas water heater (50% efficient if you are lucky), 1980 era SlantFin cast iron boiler (probably 75% efficient), gas cook top (not good for the health, or so the latest research shows) and a gas dryer with a dodgy control knob. Ohh, also, 3" of whatever insulation they put in the attic (800ft2).

Gone, all of it......

In goes:
New 2 plate induction cooktop and a single plug in one if needed, electric tank with one element run by 2kw of PV directly (installed it on in March and only now have I turned on the backup), and top element hooked to the grid, boiler is now a 3 ton Fujitsu type heat pump (no name brand but now you know what it looks like) that I bastardized to heat a brazed plate HX and run my rads. It isn't too cold out so far (6C early this morning) and the tank has been holding steady at 58C. Nice.

And to top it off, the gas dryer is gone and a Samsung heat pump dryer is in. It is working great and a nice thing is I can cover up that nasty vent. What a waste of heated air.

Ohh, and R50 of blown in cellulose in the attic.

As Ontario is almost all non fossil fuel for its electricity, I'm pretty pleased to be off the gas. Now to finish my long delayed EV VW truck.

philb · 10-18-20, 04:39 PM

Last spring, I bought an induction cook top. It keeps the house cool in the summer. That was also the last day I used propane. We use solar energy for heating and cooling with some grid power now.

Since I bought a fifth wheel RV, we do use a bit more electricity, $35 per month more right now. (I'm sure that will change soon.) The RV also now has its own cook induction top. It costs $100 to fill two 100 lb cylinders and $30 for a small bottle. The BTU or Watt value just doesn't add up.

I have bought a diesel heater to try as a backup in the RV but haven't got it assembled yet.

Mikesolar, how much energy does the Samsung heat pump dryer cost to run?

Mikesolar · 10-18-20, 04:48 PM

It says 135kwh per year but I will put my meter on it and see what a load takes.

oil pan 4 · 10-19-20, 08:46 PM

I would recommend fossil fuel or renewable fuel backups as that part of Canada is ground 0 for solar storm power disruptions in the northern hemisphere.

Mikesolar · 10-20-20, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I would recommend fossil fuel or renewable fuel backups as that part of Canada is ground 0 for solar storm power disruptions in the northern hemisphere.

Not in the city where I am. We might get one or two a year and not for very long.

oil pan 4 · 10-20-20, 03:32 PM

The problem is when the next big one hits the power is going to go out for a while there.

philb · 10-20-20, 04:31 PM

My solar and wind power usually goes down from November to January every year. That's when I use the most grid power.
With gas prices as low as they are, it may be cheaper to use a generator instead of grid.

pinballlooking · 10-21-20, 11:53 AM

We bought an induction cooker for on pan for a while. We liked it so much we got an induction stove. I was sold on gas stove but induction is the best over all I just wish the cost would get lower.

Solar / Geothermal HVAC.
Chevy Volt / sBike

But my new Plasma CNC business has made it so I will not net zero this year.

oil pan 4 · 10-21-20, 11:33 PM

I don't know about that. Using gasoline to generate power you are probably looking at 50 cents to $1 per kwh.
Now if you had a liquid cooled generator and could pipe that hot engine coolant from a liquid cooled generator inside the house during the winter then the efficiency goes way up.

u3b3rg33k · 10-23-20, 02:17 AM

What model samsung? and is it a "vent free" model (i.e. no lint dump to outdoors)?

the whirlpool I saw that is discontinued still had a 4" dryer vent, and I don't like that.

10-17-20, 07:41 PM	#1
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	fossil fuel free Not sure where to put this so I stuck it here. First, the 1958 house had a standard natural draft gas water heater (50% efficient if you are lucky), 1980 era SlantFin cast iron boiler (probably 75% efficient), gas cook top (not good for the health, or so the latest research shows) and a gas dryer with a dodgy control knob. Ohh, also, 3" of whatever insulation they put in the attic (800ft2). Gone, all of it...... In goes: New 2 plate induction cooktop and a single plug in one if needed, electric tank with one element run by 2kw of PV directly (installed it on in March and only now have I turned on the backup), and top element hooked to the grid, boiler is now a 3 ton Fujitsu type heat pump (no name brand but now you know what it looks like) that I bastardized to heat a brazed plate HX and run my rads. It isn't too cold out so far (6C early this morning) and the tank has been holding steady at 58C. Nice. And to top it off, the gas dryer is gone and a Samsung heat pump dryer is in. It is working great and a nice thing is I can cover up that nasty vent. What a waste of heated air. Ohh, and R50 of blown in cellulose in the attic. As Ontario is almost all non fossil fuel for its electricity, I'm pretty pleased to be off the gas. Now to finish my long delayed EV VW truck.

10-18-20, 04:39 PM	#2
philb Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 155 Thanks: 58 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	Last spring, I bought an induction cook top. It keeps the house cool in the summer. That was also the last day I used propane. We use solar energy for heating and cooling with some grid power now. Since I bought a fifth wheel RV, we do use a bit more electricity, $35 per month more right now. (I'm sure that will change soon.) The RV also now has its own cook induction top. It costs $100 to fill two 100 lb cylinders and $30 for a small bottle. The BTU or Watt value just doesn't add up. I have bought a diesel heater to try as a backup in the RV but haven't got it assembled yet. Mikesolar, how much energy does the Samsung heat pump dryer cost to run? Last edited by philb; 10-18-20 at 04:42 PM.. Reason: spelling

10-21-20, 11:53 AM	#8
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	We bought an induction cooker for on pan for a while. We liked it so much we got an induction stove. I was sold on gas stove but induction is the best over all I just wish the cost would get lower. Solar / Geothermal HVAC. Chevy Volt / sBike But my new Plasma CNC business has made it so I will not net zero this year. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-18-20, 04:48 PM	#3
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	It says 135kwh per year but I will put my meter on it and see what a load takes.

10-19-20, 08:46 PM	#4
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	I would recommend fossil fuel or renewable fuel backups as that part of Canada is ground 0 for solar storm power disruptions in the northern hemisphere.

10-20-20, 03:32 PM	#6
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	The problem is when the next big one hits the power is going to go out for a while there.

10-20-20, 04:31 PM	#7
philb Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 155 Thanks: 58 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	My solar and wind power usually goes down from November to January every year. That's when I use the most grid power. With gas prices as low as they are, it may be cheaper to use a generator instead of grid.

10-21-20, 11:33 PM	#9
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	I don't know about that. Using gasoline to generate power you are probably looking at 50 cents to $1 per kwh. Now if you had a liquid cooled generator and could pipe that hot engine coolant from a liquid cooled generator inside the house during the winter then the efficiency goes way up.

10-23-20, 02:17 AM	#10
u3b3rg33k Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Rustbelt, USA Posts: 114 Thanks: 5 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	What model samsung? and is it a "vent free" model (i.e. no lint dump to outdoors)? the whirlpool I saw that is discontinued still had a 4" dryer vent, and I don't like that.