This great article by Tim Flannery came through on The Conversation today. It has a little video embedded in it that is really worth looking at.
My recent addition of a new solar power system is an attempt to future proof my home and reduce my use of fossil fuels. When batteries become better I'll even consider getting one. Meanwhile I've got myself to Air Con 101 level and am able to program my air cons to come on in the middle of the day and store some of the excess energy I am producing in the infrastructure of my building so that life is more comfortable.
And there are more consequences of the use of fossil fuels (or any fuels unnecessarily) as outlined in another article in The Conversation today about the plight of Pigmy Possums in our alpine regions. That is presumably not the only wildlife to be affected by excess light at night so turn off unnecessary lights at night and save on power and maybe save some wildlife too.
Of course my water tanks store water for me. And today they are being filled by this lovely rain. Hooray!
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Monday, September 16, 2019
A short trip to Underhill
Last Saturday Geoff, Ivy, Heather and Ponyo took me down to Underhill for the day. There we met Nathan, Karita and their 9 week old Acacia. Karita's mum Connie was also out from the USA so was down with them.
We had a few chores to complete, the first of which was planting two clumping bamboos that should grow tall and strong enough to use as construction material.
It is a worry planting bamboo but as we are having trouble getting anything to grow Geoff has decided to give it a try. If it gets eaten out then so be it. If it becomes a weed then we will remove it.
A simple lunch of instant sandwiches from our fuel stop was enjoyed by all.
Another chore was to scatter some green manure seeds and cover them with mushroom compost and/or chicken manure. We can buy the chook poo from a local who obviously must have a lot of chooks. He also sells beautiful veges when he has them on his honesty stand.
Geoff is also covering some of the seeds with some fibrous underfelt that we have scrounged in the hopes that it will keep the soil moist enough for the seeds to germinate but is also open enough for the seedlings to grow through.
We are due for rain this week so it will be interesting to see if there is any growth next time we go down.
At last I also got the photos I had meant to take previously of the quilts I had made for Geoff's family from Surrey's shirts. For photos of these take a look at the tab My Quilts 2019.
A great weight was lifted from Geoff's shoulders when he and Nathan were able to fell the last of the Callitris that Surrey and I had planted as Christmas trees for home. The last one had grown enormous and had become quite a fire hazard close to the sheds.
We had a few chores to complete, the first of which was planting two clumping bamboos that should grow tall and strong enough to use as construction material.
It is a worry planting bamboo but as we are having trouble getting anything to grow Geoff has decided to give it a try. If it gets eaten out then so be it. If it becomes a weed then we will remove it.
A simple lunch of instant sandwiches from our fuel stop was enjoyed by all.
Another chore was to scatter some green manure seeds and cover them with mushroom compost and/or chicken manure. We can buy the chook poo from a local who obviously must have a lot of chooks. He also sells beautiful veges when he has them on his honesty stand.
Geoff is also covering some of the seeds with some fibrous underfelt that we have scrounged in the hopes that it will keep the soil moist enough for the seeds to germinate but is also open enough for the seedlings to grow through.
We are due for rain this week so it will be interesting to see if there is any growth next time we go down.
At last I also got the photos I had meant to take previously of the quilts I had made for Geoff's family from Surrey's shirts. For photos of these take a look at the tab My Quilts 2019.
A great weight was lifted from Geoff's shoulders when he and Nathan were able to fell the last of the Callitris that Surrey and I had planted as Christmas trees for home. The last one had grown enormous and had become quite a fire hazard close to the sheds.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Spending the kids' inheritance - I have the power!
It all started when I was considering the heat issues associated with my north facing back roof - flat and metal! I decided a fly roof of sorts was needed and considered laying brush fencing or shade cloth over it. I even considered a roof-top garden. Then thought an actual tropical fly roof would work. Ah! but what if that fly roof was clad with solar panels. But wait! Solar panels can go straight on the roof as it is at the moment!
Although the panels are shaded early morning they use technology to overcome this. I could have even fitted on a few more but because of discrepancy with the layout of the office and the actual installer I did not know that at the time. Even at 6:30am I am producing. The cost of my solar panel roof was roughly the same as adding a fly roof and it is earning me money.
I have kept my old solar system (10 years old) that is mostly on the western pitched roof. When it dies I'll consider what to do next but by then technology will be even more advanced. I have also kept my old working solar hot water system. Again, when it dies I'll reconsider and maybe just use an electric hot water system with a tank closer to where I need the hot water so I don't lose as much heat in cold pipes.
My Solar Analytics software is throwing a wobbly at the moment trying to integrate all these various readings it is receiving but that will be sorted eventually with people coming from each different company and scratching their head a lot over my meter board layout. At the moment my graph reads that I am actually UNconsuming power which is impossible.
To use some of my excess power I have now had air con installed in my lounge room and bedroom. I can heat/cool the rooms in the middle of the day (when the sun shines) using the double brick walls to store that temperature for when I need it in the evenings.
Of course I am also feeding into the grid and offsetting my power bills. When batteries become a better/cheaper option I will consider installing one. You never know, I might eventually be off grid.
Voila!
Although the panels are shaded early morning they use technology to overcome this. I could have even fitted on a few more but because of discrepancy with the layout of the office and the actual installer I did not know that at the time. Even at 6:30am I am producing. The cost of my solar panel roof was roughly the same as adding a fly roof and it is earning me money.
I have kept my old solar system (10 years old) that is mostly on the western pitched roof. When it dies I'll consider what to do next but by then technology will be even more advanced. I have also kept my old working solar hot water system. Again, when it dies I'll reconsider and maybe just use an electric hot water system with a tank closer to where I need the hot water so I don't lose as much heat in cold pipes.
My Solar Analytics software is throwing a wobbly at the moment trying to integrate all these various readings it is receiving but that will be sorted eventually with people coming from each different company and scratching their head a lot over my meter board layout. At the moment my graph reads that I am actually UNconsuming power which is impossible.
Of course I am also feeding into the grid and offsetting my power bills. When batteries become a better/cheaper option I will consider installing one. You never know, I might eventually be off grid.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Elaine is enjoying "fresh" air
This morning Elaine walked up to the Tradies for coffee. She is doing really well with only a bit of apprehension about coming down stairs at her place.
A very steep learning curve learning how to negotiate the world again after surgery.
A very steep learning curve learning how to negotiate the world again after surgery.
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