Solar Facts for When I’m Ready
Last year we bought our first single-family home. This purchase finally removes all of the excuses for not making my home more environmentally friendly. As a result, I did some research on adding a net-metered solar system on the house. The capital requirements are somewhat staggering which means no net-metered solar system for us soon.
Observations
- The Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida estimates that a 1KW solar system will generate 1,350 kWh per year with 3.5 hours of sun per day. So, a 5 KW system will generate about 18.5 kWh per day (conservatively).
- For comparison, my 2,100 sq ft home averages about 37.2 kWh per day.
- Installing a solar hot water heater is equivalent to installing a 2 KW system. An 80 gallon ceramic solar powered hot water heater will only lose about 1 degree of temperature every 3 days.
- The term net-metered simply means the system is connected to the power grid. This results in credits to your power bill. However, the system does not include batteries and does not provide power during utility outages.
Continue reading Comments (0) Apr.09.2008.
This is a Blog Post
I'm an avid reader of Jason Broadwater's musings on web marketing. I don't think of myself as a marketer. I simply enjoy the fact that the Internet reduces barriers and allows ordinary people to sometimes do the extraordinary. I just did it! I described what the Internet is to me. I created this third thing.
Well I think this video post created by Jason is one of his most interesting yet, so I wanted to archive and promote this thought here on my web-site which is a blog. It's a third thingy.
Continue reading Comments (0) Mar.25.2008.
Follow Starbucks on this Approach of Socialized Ideation
Starbucks has created an on-line suggestion box for anyone that has a good idea for improving any aspect about the retailer. This is a great idea and a great use of technology. On the Starbucks Idea site, members of the community are allowed to post and vote on good ideas. Likewise, the social aspect of it allows valid ideas to organically bubble-up.
http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/home/home.jsp
This Starbucks Idea solution is powered and hosted by SalesForce.com according to the footer information on their site.
Continue reading Comments (0) Mar.20.2008.
The Constitutional Debate over the Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms
Living and growing-up in the South, I’m accustomed to NRA logos on the back of vehicles. I know for a fact that at least two of my relatives are card carrying members of the National Rifle Association. Honestly, I think that’s great that they would get involved in the process. I believe the freedom to own a gun is enabled by individual state laws and not by the Second Amendment.
The Second Amendment to the Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
The problem is that people are not familiar with the Second Amendment. The first part of the amendment establishes the context of the law. My belief is that the Second Amendment allows for the each State in the Union to maintain an armed force, and the force is made up of people within the "militia" that are allowed to own and store “arms”. It simply doesn’t grant individuals unbridled gun ownership.
Let’s not misinterpret the Constitution by reading only half an amendment. If you support gun-ownership then the focus should be with your state legislature and not against our Constitution.
Continue reading Comments (0) Mar.18.2008.