Re: New paradigm for home heating automation and control

["Brett Griffin" <bret.griffin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Why not just rule out the cost side and pay for it up front with today's
dollars and not tomorrows.

Many live well on alternative energy.  Solar with home automation is a great
way to go.  Many states have subsidies to help defray the costs.  If you
plan to live in your home for more than 6-8 years, it will pay for itself.

The best setup I have seen is a zero energy home.  It produces more energy
during the day and the meter spins backwards, at night you use more than you
generate, so it spins forward.  Ideally at the end of the month the end
result is zero change.  I have seen some home make money from the electric
company. Works better in Florida than Fairbanks in the winter, but even in
Seattle it is a viable source.  My mother lives this way 1 hour outside of
Seattle.

Pair this with a well programmed home automation system, florescent lights
and a electric based heating system and you are doing well.  In addition get
a 30 gallon tank for the roof, with a on demand heater for back up and your
covered, conserving all around.

But there is that pesky price tag up front....

--
Brett Griffin, Co-Founder
Architechtronics
providing unique home technology solutions

*Home of "fidoh" for HAI/OnQ/Aegis
http://www.architechtronics.com/fidoh.html

X-10 to UPB, Two-Way Translation
http://www.architechtronics.com/chameleoplc.html

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"Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ca-dnfCO7PDf8jreRVn-rQ@xxxxxxxxxx
> Pat,
>
> I think Marc was just trying to be humorous!  With the energy cost
> situation
> *temporarily* upside down, the spill heat from from leaving something like
> the fridge door open is likely to reduce the demand for more expensive gas
> or oil because the open door and ever-running compressor  would help to
> heat
> the house via cheaper electricity.  As you point out, there are other,
> hidden costs.
>
> With gas and oil as pricey as they are, it's almost an economic certainty
> the price of electricity will rise.
>
> It does give rise to an interesting question:  Does it pay to have two
> types
> of heating systems if there's a tremendous flux in availability of fuel
> sources?  How would that be manageable from an HA standpoint?
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>
>
>
> "Pat Farrell" <pfarrell@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:BXJpf.66337$sg5.21260@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Marc F Hult wrote:
>> > For example, leaving lights turned on 24x7 and the fridge door open
>> > both
>> > have the potential of _reducing_ my total bill from my utility during
> the
>> > heating season.
>>
>> Leaving the fridge door open does what? Causes the compressor to
>> run constantly and food to spoil? You are using the compressor to
>> generate heat, colder on the shelf side of the fridge, hotter
>> on the back and top.  A big toaster does it better
>> and doesn't have expensive parts to wear out.
>>
>> Leaving the lights on is exactly the same as running a
>> resistance heater or as the heat pump folks call it
>> "emergency heat". Except that the light bulbs burn out
>> and all the lights help keep you up at night and fade
>> colors.
>>
>> Use a well to provide heat to your heat pump year round.
>> Well established technology.
>>
>> Assuming you can tolerate the luke warm air that a heat
>> pump puts out.
>>
>> On topic, zoning is probably a useful area for home automation.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Pat
>>
>>
>
>