On 10/20/2010 5:31 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Andy wrote:
On Oct 20, 1:38 pm, wrote:


Andy in Eureka, Texas

then again, if you had a gate opener at the end of 2 mile driveway
that is battery powered and no handy power line, it might be just
the thing to get to keep a small battery charged.

Andy writes:
Absolutely correct. There is a definite niche for solar power, or
wind power, or for bicycle operated generators. Any place one needs
a continuously availble source of a small amount of power, solar will
do nicely.... usually.... except maybe in things like coal mines
(grin).....

However, if the purpose is to "get off the grid" and "replentish
the
earth" or some such, the operator needs to make a business decision
regarding costs, maintenance, reliability..... and solar isn't even
in the running to replace an existing grid source...... the ONE
exception
being on government buildings where taxpayer money is used to set
up a million dollar installation where the maintenance cost exceeds
the
electric bill.... Since the taxpayers are paying for it, and the
politician
can get a few votes from avid tree-huggers, it is cost effective...

Andy in Eureka, Texas

You make a couple of good points.

In addition is is not within the boundaries of physics to run this country
off of sunbeams, yet we keep pouring (government) money into the quest for
perpetual motion, er..., Sasquatch, er..., ah, I've got it, "Solar Power."

The ONLY way it would be POSSIBLE to run a city or a state off of sunbeams
is to move the orbit of the earth closer to the sun.


And for the umpteenth time, solar/= electricity. Photovoltaic or
focused-mirror steam (or salt-slurry) power generation only makes sense
for certain niche applications (at least with current technology), or in
certain areas where the sun shines most of the time, and the feeling is
laid back. But passive solar, if designed in, can pay for itself almost
anywhere, as long as the people using the building are willing to put up
with the daily and seasonal changes in routine to take advantage of it.
(Or you automate the whole thing, but that is still currently pretty
expensive.) Every gallon of water or cubic foot of air you heat however
many degrees with solar, is that many less BTUs of electric or oil or
gas you need to use. And if the house is shaped right, and the local
outside air is tolerable, solar can provide plenty of 'free' inside
airflow. The 1902 building I work in used to be set up that way, until
they 'modernized' it and tore out all the elevated openable skylights
and air shafts, and blocked off all the transoms above the doors when
they added the drop ceilings.
--
aem sends...