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Questions tagged [alternative-energy]

9 questions
8
votes
2 answers

Can I power my air conditioning with solar energy?

In my house I have 3 small air conditioning systems running at 8000 BTU/hour each. I would like to power them with solar energy. I found that I would have to generate: 3.41 BTU/hr = 1 Watt 8000 BTU/hr = 2346 Watts That means to power the 3 units…
VP.
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5
votes
3 answers

Should I pursue building my own wind turbine?

The area where I live suffers heavy power outages (in fact the whole country does!!) so I am considering building one of those wind turbines (with PVC pipes) but am not sure whether it's windy enough here for it to run (A Google result says its just…
user1649
4
votes
1 answer

Can I retrofit a wind-power system for my home?

I live in a VERY windy place. My neighborhood is a new development of your typical suburban single family homes. There isn't really room for a full windmill, nor would it look very well. But there has to be some way for me to harness the constant…
Eric Falsken
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4
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2 answers

What Good and Affordable Alternative Power Source Would You Recommend?

I am woking on a startup (read: using my computer always). 80% of the time, I generate my own electricity with a petrol/gas generator. On new years day, the Nigerian government increased the price of petrol/gas by 120%, instantly doubling the cost…
OoTheNigerian
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3
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3 answers

Photovoltaic installation: does it make sense (or is possible at all) to get a bigger inverter than the power output of the installed panels?

We are going to install a PV in our offices. Our actual needs would be satisfied by an installation of about 4kW, so that ~16 panels of 250W. It's going to be a central-inverter, grid-connected installation. Now, we would probably need more power in…
Rodrigo Gómez
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2
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1 answer

Determine highest "carbon reduced per dollar spent" option for reducing pollution generated by home?

I've been talking with friends and coworkers about how I can reduce the amount of pollution generated by my house (heating the air, heating the water, cooking the food, etc.) Everybody has a different suggestion - Replace my natural gas water…
Betty Crokker
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1
vote
2 answers

Will this solar charger work with my solar panel setup?

I recently bought some used solar panels that are about 25 years old, because I got a great deal on them. They have some odd operating values, which is confusing me as to which solar charger will work with my system. I have 6 panels @ 230 watts each…
swis24
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1
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3 answers

geothermal cooling with no heat pump?

I'm buying my first house (1000 sq ft) and it has an old, unused water well. It has a central furnace but no central AC, only window units. I want to use geothermal to condition the air, but only to cool the house in the summer and supplementing…
Dan Mantyla
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Will this solar panel setup work?

Fairly new to using solar. I have been reading up on volts vs. amps in terms of what makes the most efficient system. I am considering a 24v battery bank with 4 12v batteries connected together. These are the Kirkland 115a starting/marine batteries.…
swis24
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