[mythtv-users] [Slightly OT] solar power for all our gadgets

[Marc MERLIN]

On Sun, Mar 08, 2009 at 03:05:54PM -0700, Mark Knecht wrote:
>    I'm at an impass with this whole MythTV thing. Our PG&E bill is
> running $350/month right now, about 60% is electricity. ($200 last
> month) We have a gas heater and gas water heater, but electric pool
> pumps and oven/range. My Kill-a-Watt told me that if I assume the
> MythTV server is the most expensive electricity I buy (because it is a
> luxury) then it's costing me about $18/month to run the backend. My
> old fridge is about $30. We've got 6 PCs running here, 1 STB, 1 HDHR,
> a couple of TVs, monitors, wireless phones, network equipment, etc.,
> etc., etc. so I'm pretty sensitive to the electricity usage at this
> point. We converted the whole house to CFL already. I figure it's
> probably $10-$15/month to rent an STB and also pay the electricity
> bill to run it. If I end up with 3 - 1 on the main TV and 2 for
> recording, then MythTV is starting to look like $40-$60/month in
> reoccurring costs along with about $125 going to Comcast already.
> Ugly...

Now we're pretty off topic, but the best investment you can do with your
money today is solar panels if you have a house: currently in CA with the
brand new uncapped federal credits, you can get solar for 50% off.

That's what I did and my bill will now be around from now on. It'll take
about 5Y for me to break even, and around 8-9Y for the system to pay for
itself. From then, on, I get about 20Y of free electricity.

Chosing the right solar company was difficult for me. After a lot of
research, I recommend Cobalt Power in the bay area. Rusty did a good job for
me: rustys at cobaltpower.com
More details here:
http://marc.merlins.org/perso/blog/2009-01.html#Solar-Panels

Hope this helps,
Marc
-- 
"A mouse is a device used to point at the xterm you want to type in" - A.S.R.
Microsoft is to operating systems & security ....
                                      .... what McDonalds is to gourmet cooking
Home page: http://marc.merlins.org/