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Post by RiverJim on Aug 27, 2005 6:01:24 GMT -5
Does harvesting natural energy count as bounty?
So does anyone get free power of any kind?
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Post by RiverJim on Aug 27, 2005 6:06:26 GMT -5
I think I'm gonna get a old 49 flathead jeep so I can run what I brew in the tank. Those things will run on about anything! And put a paddle wheel in the river to make electric.
Now if I'd quit smokin I could quit workin. Done give up drinkin and chasin women and I have a lifetime licence so what else do I need?;D
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Post by duff on Sept 12, 2005 15:50:16 GMT -5
I have two running wells on my property. They both used to supply drinking water to my house and a few other houses in the neighborhood. I have been looking into a generator of some type, the water just flows 24/7 so I could charge batteries then have it converted into houshold current. So far the research I have done will take between $5-10K initial investment. Currently I just use it to water the garden and flowers.
Other thing I was looking at was the outdoor wood furnace. I currently heat my home with gas boiler so hooking up one of those units wouldn't be too hard just a chunk of change again.
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Post by RiverJim on Sept 18, 2005 9:17:47 GMT -5
My neighbor just put in a new wood furnace from rural king. He always heated with wood but this one requires less stoking and blows the hot air throughout the house. I heat with wood to via a buck stove and it sure stinks in the morning hittin a ice cold toliet seat!  |
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Post by duff on Sept 27, 2005 10:07:51 GMT -5
I would set it up so that it can run off of gas also. That way for any reason the wood isn't burning I will have a gas fire heating the water! Would also be setting a generator up so when power goes out could still have heat as the water is circulated with a pump. NOt a big deal to be without heat for a while but the water lines could freeze coming into the house would be my biggest concern.
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Post by Indyhunter on Sept 27, 2005 16:00:55 GMT -5
Duff, I though you moved just west of town, not west of Sudan?
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Post by duff on Sept 27, 2005 16:39:49 GMT -5
Anderson/Sudan, what's the difference?
You're right, but if I can get away from paying for things such as gas and electricity I will do it when I can. Leaves more $$ for other things. Hard to see all the $ going down the drain pun intended.
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 27, 2005 17:56:16 GMT -5
I've got geo-thermal heating in my house and it works well.. the 6" walls help too.. www.waterfurnace.com/ |
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Post by steiny on Sept 27, 2005 19:39:01 GMT -5
Put in a wood stove last fall and wasn't too pleased with the results, it just wasn't big enough. just swapped it out for a Johnson Energy Systems wood furnace. Will probably have to sit around this winter in our undies, with the door cracked open.  |
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Post by raporter1 on Sept 28, 2005 21:31:13 GMT -5
Got a fireplace insert that I do not think I will use this year. Real pain for little gain.
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 28, 2005 22:13:44 GMT -5
Got a fireplace insert that I do not think I will use this year. Real pain for little gain. I've got an older model CEMI insert and it will flat run you out of the house it puts out so much heat. One evening last winter it got so hot in the living room I turned the blower completely off.....then I opened the front door to let in some cool air. PHEW!! I'lll run the furnace on "fan only" to circulate the heat throughout the house. The only thing I don't like is the dirt and smell. |
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Post by reynoldss on Sept 29, 2005 6:07:59 GMT -5
Woody- I am have researched and am probably going to install a geo-thermal heating system in my house. Is it as cost effective in real life as it is on paper? The initial investment is steep, but the guys I know in the energy business are telling me to get ready becuase it's going to get real ugly, real soon and stay that way for a real long time. They are all advising to go geo-thermal.....stating that I can pay now or pay a lot more later. What are your thoughts?
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 29, 2005 8:53:40 GMT -5
Woody- I am have researched and am probably going to install a geo-thermal heating system in my house. Is it as cost effective in real life as it is on paper? The initial investment is steep, but the guys I know in the energy business are telling me to get ready becuase it's going to get real ugly, real soon and stay that way for a real long time. They are all advising to go geo-thermal.....stating that I can pay now or pay a lot more later. What are your thoughts? I think so. It is rare for me to have a electricity bill (total electricity) over $100 for a 1500 sqaure foot house. My wife (bless her) like to keep the thermostat low 68 in the summer (you could hang meat in our house) and high 75 in the winter. I keep telling hetr that if we switched that around we could save more. The big savings comes when the temps get below 32 or so. That is when the regular heat pumps have to rely on heat strips for cooling. The only time I have used heat strips is when we come back form vacation and the thermostat was turned way down and want to heat the house up faster. It also gets you hot water in the summer.. Be sure and hook it up to your water heater. |
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Sept 30, 2005 10:22:37 GMT -5
It's not really free, but I enjoy the moist heat from my fireplace insert, as my home is total electric. I have aquired permission to some dandy deer hunting spots that were a result of cutting firewood for the landowner & myself.
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Post by jstalljon on Sept 30, 2005 10:27:26 GMT -5
The house we bought a year ago had a regular fireplace converted to gas log.
Well, with natural gas prices the way they are and heading I spent last night tearing out and capping gas lines and had our first REAL fire!
Bring on the sub zero temps! ;D
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Post by kevin1 on Oct 6, 2005 8:30:28 GMT -5
I've got geo-thermal heating in my house and it works well.. the 6" walls help too.. www.waterfurnace.com/I've considered geothermal , how much was your system ? I have an 1,800 sf home , of which only half needs heat , the other half is garage which I could keep from freezing with an electric space heater . The house is a berm type , we can heat the living space with nothing but two oil filled radiator space heaters for $150-160 per month currently , and we have a woefully inefficient propane furnace just in case . |
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 6, 2005 8:45:59 GMT -5
I've got geo-thermal heating in my house and it works well.. the 6" walls help too.. www.waterfurnace.com/I've considered geothermal , how much was your system ? It was in the neighborhood of $6 grand, but that included all the ductwork and was 19 years ago. It is still runnng like a champ and a good number of my neighbors have had their heat pumps replaced.. |
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Post by kevin1 on Oct 6, 2005 18:24:22 GMT -5
I already have ductwork , maybe that will get me a small discount . My water heater is also right next to my furnace , so that might help too .
How did you finance that , through the mortgage ? I think the site mentioned that , but I just bought this place and I'm sure the bank would be miffed if I refied right now . In fact , I believe I'm subject to a prepayment penalty within the first 3 years .
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 6, 2005 20:13:44 GMT -5
I already have ductwork , maybe that will get me a small discount . My water heater is also right next to my furnace , so that might help too . How did you finance that , through the mortgage ? I think the site mentioned that , but I just bought this place and I'm sure the bank would be miffed if I refied right now . In fact , I believe I'm subject to a prepayment penalty within the first 3 years . I had it installed when I built the house. Back then the government gave tax rebates for either solar or geothermal energy sources. I think got back close to $1000 on it. I'm not sure you would want to refinace so soon. Maybe a home improvement or second mortgage loan? |
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Post by kevin1 on Oct 6, 2005 20:38:47 GMT -5
Bit early for that too , I'm paying off a 401k loan of $8000 that I took out to get the down payment , so that comes out of the old paycheck for about 5 years @ $35 per week and I'm just finishing the first year in December . Once our homestead mortgage exemption , budget electric billing and some other things kick in this coming year then maybe I could check into it further .
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