Geosource, Solar Thermal, and Energy Efficiency

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-Here are techniques and equipment to reduce your homes energy consumption using the limitless energy of the sun and earth and simple low tech energy conservation measures. And is the alternative to todays outlandishly expensive photo voltaics

Members: 9
Latest Activity: May 1

I oppose todays photo voltaic solar cells.

Why do I oppose todays photo voltaic solar cells?
You answered your own question, "Once they [PV] become more efficient and cost a lot less".

Today your money could be more wisely spent on making your home more energy efficient.

If your home uses natural gas, fuel oil, or propane for heating and if your home uses more than 4700 kWh per year of electricity you do not have an energy efficient home. You can achieve this home energy efficiency with todays made in America products at a very low cost.

Your homes Energy consumption can be reduced by up to 85% when
1. Insulation is increased, R24 walls and R50 ceiling
2. air infiltration is eliminated,
3. Other thermal performance improvements, (windows, attic venting, window shading) are made.
4. Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) with solar thermal assist are installed. and/or
5. Active and passive Solar Thermal (ST) whole house heating is implemented.
Your results may vary.

Pickens says build wind mills to replace natural gas electricity power generation plants so that natural gas can fuel Americas vehicles.

There are other electricity demand factors to consider.
The chart below shows the real estate bubble in terms of new home construction and population. The chart shows that more homes were built than have been needed based on historical trends.

http://www.census.gov/const/startsusintenta.pdf
http://www.census.gov/const/www/quarterly_starts_completions_cust.xls

Now we should see a electricity demand bubble as well.. The chart below does not show a bubble. This is because apartment vacancy rates went up http://www.danter.com/STATISTICS/rentvac.htm as new home occupancy went up. The new homes electricity breaker was turned on while the apartments breaker switch was turned off. But then you ask why has electricity prices gone up in the last couple of years? The chart below shows that natural gas costs to the utility companies has quadrupled since 2003.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat7p2.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat4p5.html

The below chart shows that the electric utilities have nearly tripled there natural gas consumption while the price for natural gas has doubled.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat4p5.html

While, coal consumption and costs to the utility companies has remained virtually constant for 13 years, as the chart below shows.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat4p5.html

And this is why electricity rates have gone down over the last 18 years, inflation adjusted to 2006, and are tilting upwards and skyrocketing in some regions.. Reliable data has not yet been compiled by the EIA for 2007 and 2008 to show the electricity rate increases but some of your electricity bills do. In Missouri electricity rates have barely changed.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept08ca.xls
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept08az.xls
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept08ny.xls
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept08fl.xls
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept08mo.xls

The chart below shows an upper Midwest home energy costs using a 9 SEER A/C and a natural gas furnace and a hot water heater is replaced by a solar assisted GSHP.

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Comment by Kathleen Dove on April 9, 2009 at 11:42am: Hello Mr. Epps,
Good news - the Natural Gas Act 2009 has been passed. Read the bills passed on biofuels and alternative energies by U.S. Representative Dan Boren and Senators Jeff Bingaman(NM) Senator Reid(NV) Senators Dorgan and Voinovich.
Go to the Virtual March at pickensplan.com/news The Daily Pickens. Natural Gas Act '09 to vote over the next 2 weeks if you haven't already.

Comment by david epps on April 8, 2009 at 1:37am: More information is here
http://push.pickensplan.com/group/technicalaspectsofthepickensplan

Comment by david epps on April 8, 2009 at 1:35am: I would be happy to critique your sons home energy audit for free.
I did a complete energy efficient remodel of 1890 home in Denver.
If you would like more input contact me at zamericanenergy@gmail.com

Comment by david epps on April 8, 2009 at 1:29am: smart grid is dumb! - smart grid is a way to reduce peak demand by controlling your home usage (an invasion of your home by big government)
Centralizing USA energy production in the Texas panhandle or Arizona is dumb!(one glitch and it all crashes, another big government control plan)

See PDF for Made in USA products.
network_flyer.pdf

Comment by Kathleen Dove on April 7, 2009 at 7:24pm: Mr. Epps,
My son recently purchased an older home. He is overwhelmed with the state of disrepair. He is about to have an energy audit to gain energy savings. Thank you for the Geothermal Group.

Comment by Kathleen Dove on April 7, 2009 at 7:15pm: Hello Mr. Epps,
Could something like a Smart Grid, central energy source, with solar thermal panels plus thermomax tubes plus reflective film depending on zone area be made in the U.S.A. to be distributed locally.