 Wind power in Lubbock |
| Wind power in Lubbock |
 Oct 15 2006, 01:32 PM
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#1
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 Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48  |
I wonder if this would be legal to put up in my backyard...
http://www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/product-info/ although it's $10,000, it'd more than pay for itself. |
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Oct 15 2006, 01:33 PM
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#2
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 From Atlantis to Interzone Group: Global Moderators Posts: 2,512 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Somewhere in space and time Member No.: 65 |
I dunno, but that's pretty cool.
-------------------- QUOTE (Spectatrix @ Oct 13 2006, 09:51 PM)  Holy shit, pebkac, you're awesome! "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Theodor Seuss Geisel (AKA Dr. Seuss) "An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all." - Oscar Wilde |
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Oct 15 2006, 02:15 PM
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#3
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 Group: Admin Posts: 3,403 Joined: 23-February 06 From: PDX/TXL Member No.: 35 |
You'd be better off doing something like this. Resistant to hail
-------------------- "There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: that of the fashionable non-conformist." |
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Oct 15 2006, 02:16 PM
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#4
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 Do they ignore parts of reality? Group: Moderators Posts: 2,935 Joined: 23-February 06 From: South Overton!!! Member No.: 46 |
I don't see why it would be illegal...
-------------------- A psychotic world we live in. The madmen are in power. How long have we known this? Faced this? And--how many of us do know it? Perhaps if you know you are insane then you are not insane. Or you are becoming sane, finally. Waking up. I suppose only a few are aware of all this. Isolated persons here and there. But the broad masses... what do they think? All these hundreds of thousands in this city, here. Do they imagine that they live in a sane world? Or do they guess, glimpse, the truth...?
-Philip K. Dick |
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Oct 15 2006, 04:13 PM
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#5
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Group: Admin Posts: 6,906 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9 |
QUOTE (impala454 @ Oct 15 2006, 01:32 PM) although it's $10,000, it'd more than pay for itself. Yeah, after about 30 years... electricity costs about 7 cents/kWh. -------------------- |
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Oct 15 2006, 05:30 PM
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#6
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 Oh baby bring me down  Group: Agents Posts: 4,115 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Way out yonder Member No.: 68 |
its hart to find exact kwh charges, but at its max rating it won't run most compressors in AC units.
-------------------- Southern Rock, beer and bears!
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Oct 15 2006, 07:56 PM
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#7
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Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
QUOTE (Spectatrix @ Oct 15 2006, 05:13 PM) Yeah, after about 30 years... electricity costs about 7 cents/kWh. eh depends on where you live... lubbock is closer to $0.10/kwh. either way, a loan for $10,000 with a halfway decent interest rate shouldn't run you too much more than this would save. The site also claims quite a bit of government rebates and such too. I would also guess it would generate a little more than average in Lubbock anyhow. Being hail proof would be my only major concern. |
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Oct 15 2006, 08:02 PM
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#8
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Group: Admin Posts: 3,403 Joined: 23-February 06 From: PDX/TXL Member No.: 35 |
QUOTE (impala454 @ Oct 15 2006, 08:56 PM) eh depends on where you live... lubbock is closer to $0.10/kwh. either way, a loan for $10,000 with a halfway decent interest rate shouldn't run you too much more than this would save. The site also claims quite a bit of government rebates and such too. I would also guess it would generate a little more than average in Lubbock anyhow. Being hail proof would be my only major concern. Take a look at that link that I posted. It's probably more financially feasible. -------------------- "There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: that of the fashionable non-conformist." |
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Oct 15 2006, 08:05 PM
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#9
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 Group: Agents Posts: 4,026 Joined: 23-February 06 From: lu-bok Member No.: 41 |
call upon the power of blowthor!
-------------------- 32-bit whore
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Oct 15 2006, 08:36 PM
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#10
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 Group: Members Posts: 375 Joined: 26-February 06 From: here? Member No.: 88 |
actually, lubbock is not the best place for these. even though we see high winds off and on, there is not enough consistent wind current to make these efficient. Lubbock is kind of on a higher plateau than the surrounding areas of abilene and amarillo. Ya'll dont have to believe me but my dad has 5 of these on a ranch we own outside Abilene. The energy from these turbines at our land is owned by a company in Florida, who then sells the energy to other states.
I guess the smaller ones would be helpful to a single household, but might be stupid until they find a way to make them extremely efficient. The next area for turbines to be built will be between lubbock and amarillo. --------------------  |
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Oct 15 2006, 08:45 PM
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#11
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Group: Admin Posts: 6,906 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9 |
QUOTE (impala454 @ Oct 15 2006, 07:56 PM) eh depends on where you live... lubbock is closer to $0.10/kwh. I actually looked at my old LP&L bills to get that figure.  Granted, it might have gone up in the past year and a half. Even so, at 10 cents/kWh, it would still take 21 years to pay off.
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Oct 15 2006, 09:43 PM
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#12
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Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
my current LP&L bill is buried under other papers, but i have one from march on the computer and it showed $0.099/kwh.
i'm not saying i'm putting one in my backyard tomorrow, but if you have a house you know you'll be in for a long time it'd be worth it. and it's also nice to start seeing consumer available stuff like this, and you know they'll only get better. i'd rather being paying for a structure on my property than dumping all my money down the drain at LP&L. here's a quote off their site QUOTE For a typical home in California, where the cost of energy is $0.14/KWh, the Skystream 3.7 will produce 400 KWh per month. This will save a household $672 per year on their utility bill. At this rate, they will pay for their Skystream system in approximately 12 years (after rebates, payback is as low as 7 years. This example assumes: $8,500 installed cost, power in an 8 MPH breeze with full output achieved at 20 mph.
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Oct 15 2006, 10:57 PM
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#13
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Group: Admin Posts: 6,906 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9 |
Well the price varies depending on the time of year. Anywho, I agree that it would be nice to have if you own your house and are settled down somewhere -- just not feasible for the average college student.
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Oct 15 2006, 11:37 PM
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#14
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CHEE CHEE Group: Members Posts: 5,026 Joined: 23-February 06 From: trapped in the hoezone layer Member No.: 39 |
solar power is more and more useful, affordable, and efficient. i think way more than wind power generally. i know theres a lot of hoopla in California about new suburbs and buildings being built with panels for home and commerical use. the "greenhouse" construction philosophy. itd be a dream of mine to build/design/live in one of those homes
-------------------- Little monkeys making money
Naked monkey looking funny Mighty males are strong and free Female monkey, not so lucky Rocking monkeys, funky monkeys Monkeys sticking other monkeys Monkeys wrong or monkeys right Mostly flexing monkey might |
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Oct 16 2006, 12:22 AM
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#15
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Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
how much power can they generate?
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Oct 16 2006, 12:36 AM
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#16
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Do they ignore parts of reality? Group: Moderators Posts: 2,935 Joined: 23-February 06 From: South Overton!!! Member No.: 46 |
Yeah I think it is a major power source that we could utilize, that and the sun. Hell it is always sunny, if only there was a way to get power from dust we would be set. I think the city should undertake this seriously. I know there are several windmills around here but we should build a shit ton. I know it would "ruin" the scenery but hell it could make the town look better and bring in tourist to see the "windmill" city of west texas!
-------------------- A psychotic world we live in. The madmen are in power. How long have we known this? Faced this? And--how many of us do know it? Perhaps if you know you are insane then you are not insane. Or you are becoming sane, finally. Waking up. I suppose only a few are aware of all this. Isolated persons here and there. But the broad masses... what do they think? All these hundreds of thousands in this city, here. Do they imagine that they live in a sane world? Or do they guess, glimpse, the truth...?
-Philip K. Dick |
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Oct 16 2006, 12:44 AM
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#17
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Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
yeah i mainly just want to start learning about the stuff so maybe when i buy my next house i can start using some of it.
heh how bad ass would it be to recieve a check from LP&L each month rather than a bill |
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Oct 16 2006, 12:48 AM
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#18
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Do they ignore parts of reality? Group: Moderators Posts: 2,935 Joined: 23-February 06 From: South Overton!!! Member No.: 46 |
oh yeah, and I mean yeah it would take a while to pay for itself but it would still be nice to be ind. in that sense. We you think about it, all of our luxuries are provided and we are basically at the whim of the companies. In this day and age, it is impossible to live with out electric, gas, water etc. so that little piece of indepedence would be a welcome change I guarantee it.
-------------------- A psychotic world we live in. The madmen are in power. How long have we known this? Faced this? And--how many of us do know it? Perhaps if you know you are insane then you are not insane. Or you are becoming sane, finally. Waking up. I suppose only a few are aware of all this. Isolated persons here and there. But the broad masses... what do they think? All these hundreds of thousands in this city, here. Do they imagine that they live in a sane world? Or do they guess, glimpse, the truth...?
-Philip K. Dick |
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Oct 16 2006, 09:32 AM
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#19
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Group: Admin Posts: 3,403 Joined: 23-February 06 From: PDX/TXL Member No.: 35 |
You are wondering how much power you can get out of the solar roofing tiles, read this guy's write-up, complete with pictures: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bgoodsel/solar/blog.htm
-------------------- "There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: that of the fashionable non-conformist." |
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Oct 16 2006, 09:44 AM
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#20
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Group: Agents Posts: 4,026 Joined: 23-February 06 From: lu-bok Member No.: 41 |
QUOTE (Hartmann @ Oct 16 2006, 10:32 AM) You are wondering how much power you can get out of the solar roofing tiles, read this guy's write-up, complete with pictures: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bgoodsel/solar/blog.htm it looks about how a personal solar grid would preform. higher energy in summer, less in winter. but his numbers are a little odd. how would it preform with someone who uses air conditioning or something along those lines? -------------------- 32-bit whore
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Oct 16 2006, 10:11 AM
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#21
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Group: Admin Posts: 3,403 Joined: 23-February 06 From: PDX/TXL Member No.: 35 |
QUOTE (Divergent Reality @ Oct 16 2006, 10:44 AM) it looks about how a personal solar grid would preform. higher energy in summer, less in winter. but his numbers are a little odd. how would it preform with someone who uses air conditioning or something along those lines? Well in west Texas or anywhere in Texas for that matter, you are going to get a lot of sun (ok, maybe not as much in Houston). If you did almost your entire roof in the shingles then you would be able to pull a lot more power than this guy is. Also, I've read of people putting more collection tiles in their backyard and running the cabling underground. There is a case study house that uses an air conditioner in the summer and an electric heater in the winter, I just need to find the link. When I buy a house I will probably invest in this, especially if I live up north like I want. I'll have the extra space in a basement, why not put it to use? -------------------- "There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: that of the fashionable non-conformist." |
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Oct 16 2006, 12:25 PM
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#22
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 New son Donovan Charles Mummert born July 17, 2008 Group: Members Posts: 8,635 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Port Wentworth, GA Member No.: 15 |
full output at 20mph? that eliminates a lot of time. anything below 8mph would give you shitty electricity. i dont know... seems to shotty for me. neat idea though!
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Oct 16 2006, 12:27 PM
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#23
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Do they ignore parts of reality? Group: Moderators Posts: 2,935 Joined: 23-February 06 From: South Overton!!! Member No.: 46 |
It is preety damn windy in lubbock though. I remember plenty of days with 20 mph wind gusts i not higher!
-------------------- A psychotic world we live in. The madmen are in power. How long have we known this? Faced this? And--how many of us do know it? Perhaps if you know you are insane then you are not insane. Or you are becoming sane, finally. Waking up. I suppose only a few are aware of all this. Isolated persons here and there. But the broad masses... what do they think? All these hundreds of thousands in this city, here. Do they imagine that they live in a sane world? Or do they guess, glimpse, the truth...?
-Philip K. Dick |
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Oct 16 2006, 01:43 PM
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#24
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Group: Admin Posts: 3,403 Joined: 23-February 06 From: PDX/TXL Member No.: 35 |
-------------------- "There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: that of the fashionable non-conformist." |
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Oct 16 2006, 04:06 PM
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#25
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Group: Agents Posts: 4,026 Joined: 23-February 06 From: lu-bok Member No.: 41 |
QUOTE (Hartmann @ Oct 16 2006, 02:43 PM) damn. its nice to see some improvement in solar cells. -------------------- 32-bit whore
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Oct 16 2006, 05:03 PM
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#26
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Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
QUOTE (Jessica @ Oct 16 2006, 01:25 PM) full output at 20mph? that eliminates a lot of time. anything below 8mph would give you shitty electricity. i dont know... seems to shotty for me. neat idea though! they said in an area that gets an avg of 12 mph, you'll get roughly 400kwh per month. yeah not an extraordinary amount, but they're getting somewhere. i like the solar stuff a lot too as they store the excess in batteries, i'd probably wait on stuff like this until it's a little cheaper and can provide enough power for my entire house + excess. |
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Oct 17 2006, 12:58 PM
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#27
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CHEE CHEE Group: Members Posts: 5,026 Joined: 23-February 06 From: trapped in the hoezone layer Member No.: 39 |
-------------------- Little monkeys making money
Naked monkey looking funny Mighty males are strong and free Female monkey, not so lucky Rocking monkeys, funky monkeys Monkeys sticking other monkeys Monkeys wrong or monkeys right Mostly flexing monkey might |
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