Foo - Just switched my house to 100% wind power

Being a closet tree hugger, I thought this was cool... The big utility companies in the DC area have been hiking rates for a while now, and for the first time it's actually CHEAPER to switch to wind power. There's a company called Clean Currents that sells green energy from wind farms and makes it available through your electric company.

It'll actually save us a couple bucks a month on our electric bill too... Just thought it was kinda cool. :)

https://www.cleancurrents.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=88

That is extremely cool!:thumb:


how goes the triathlons?
and the parenting?

That is extremely cool!:thumb:


how goes the triathlons?
and the parenting?

Hehe... still trying to find a balance between the parenting and, well, evetrything else. :)

I shook off the cobwebs of the winter, 3 months of an insanely busy surgical oncology rotation, and a new baby, and got some good miles in running this week. Hoping to hop on the bike this weekend. As it stands right now I'm WAAAAAAAY out of shape. No tri's till I can fit into my wetsuit again... ;) I THINK that was a joke. I'll have to check. :o

This thread blows.



Good job Pete.

One downfall to wind power is what it is doing to some really amazing landscapes. It used to be cool to drive through the mesa's in west Texas. Now it is just a journey through a maze of gigantic arm twirling robots.

That is really cool Dr Pete. I have been looking into alternative energy for my home. I have one question how do you know or how does it work that you are only getting power from the wind farm? I can't imagine they hooked you up to a separate grid. Did you ask them this?

Hehe... still trying to find a balance between the parenting and, well, evetrything else. :)

I shook off the cobwebs of the winter, 3 months of an insanely busy surgical oncology rotation, and a new baby, and got some good miles in running this week. Hoping to hop on the bike this weekend. As it stands right now I'm WAAAAAAAY out of shape. No tri's till I can fit into my wetsuit again... ;) I THINK that was a joke. I'll have to check. :o

You know, you should try to be more busy. It's not good to sit around idly too much:eek::twitchy:

Awesome Dr. Pete.


How's that new baby doing? I don't think we ever saw 'official' pictures did we?

We have a couple around here. Most notably one in an outlying town - where it's highly visible from a main road - powers a small company - selling some power back to the power company too.

Several other towns - mostly old farm communities where many of the farms are shutting down, selling off property, etc - are fighting tooth and nail against having a small field of these things in there. I mean - what's wrong with them? One town especially is known for its cabbages - and at times in the Fall there will be hills of rotting cabbages. Guess those are more eye appealing that the cheaper power sources.

<shakes head in amazement>

I have one question how do you know or how does it work that you are only getting power from the wind farm? I can't imagine they hooked you up to a separate grid. Did you ask them this?

Yeah, how does the electricity know who you're sending your check to? :innocent:

Yeah, how does the electricity know who you're sending your check to? :innocent:

He pay the bill electronically, duh! :innocent:

That is really cool Dr Pete. I have been looking into alternative energy for my home. I have one question how do you know or how does it work that you are only getting power from the wind farm? I can't imagine they hooked you up to a separate grid. Did you ask them this?

No, it's not a separate grid--they basically buy your power in the form of RECs (renewable energy credits), which is clean energy that's pumped into the grid based on how much you use. So there's no way to actually track the electrons coming from the wind farm, but by buying the wind farm's electricity you're effectively making your slice of the pie "clean."

So no, I'm not plugged into a windmill, but 100% of what I consume every month is pumped into the grid from a wind farm.

This thread blows.



Good job Pete.

One downfall to wind power is what it is doing to some really amazing landscapes. It used to be cool to drive through the mesa's in west Texas. Now it is just a journey through a maze of gigantic arm twirling robots.

No worse than the oil wells, topped mountains (for coal mining) or for that matter, the string of cars...

No worse than the oil wells, topped mountains (for coal mining) or for that matter, the string of cars...

I don't know--somehow I find windmills sort of aesthetically pleasing, almost relaxing.

There is a green energy expo (http://www.gogreenexpo.com/index.php) making the rounds - we're going next month. Looking forward to checking this stuff out more closely!

I did this about 6 months ago. I actually pay more for wind only, but I feel like I'm setting the example and encouraging the company to invest in more wind. Several people I've told about this have switched too.

Good for you Doc Pete.

I did this about 6 months ago. I actually pay more for wind only,

Same here, on both counts.

I saw a windmill farm in the CA central valley 10-15 yrs ago, pretty impressive. And the new carbon-fiber arms are gi-freaking-normous, they go through the port in town here. One flatbed truck per blade:

http://media.commercialappeal.com/mca/content/img/photos/2008/01/10/11wind.jpeg


I don't know if the blade only weighs 10# or whatever...

No, it's not a separate grid--they basically buy your power in the form of RECs (renewable energy credits), which is clean energy that's pumped into the grid based on how much you use. So there's no way to actually track the electrons coming from the wind farm, but by buying the wind farm's electricity you're effectively making your slice of the pie "clean."

So no, I'm not plugged into a windmill, but 100% of what I consume every month is pumped into the grid from a wind farm.

Yeah, that is what I was wonding, still very cool :thumb:

Congrats on being a new Dad, now get some sleep. :D

I'm glad it works for you.

too bad solar, wind or hydro is not an option in some parts of the world.

I'm glad it works for you.

too bad solar, wind or hydro is not an option in some parts of the world.

True--kind of a shame it's a very limited list of markets where this is available. Hopefully it'll change with time.

Thanks for sharing. I am going to switch tonight when I have my BGE bill in front of me. I hate BGE.

Cool.

I've been rethinking my view on the feasibility of windpower in this area. I used to think we didn't have enough wind to make it practical. But it seems every time I've been out on the bike this winter I'm greeted by a 10-20 mph headwind. :rolleyes:

ESPN (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XHl-WrefNE) made the switch to an EPO energy source a few years back. :D

I'm glad it works for you.

too bad solar, wind or hydro is not an option in some parts of the world.

Ours actually has solar and low-impact hydro components:

http://www.pse.com/energyEnvironment/renewableenergy4/Pages/greenPowerResources.aspx

(the default is about half high-impact hydro, think Columbia River=string of lakes)

Thanks for sharing. I am going to switch tonight when I have my BGE bill in front of me. I hate BGE.

You don't switch from BGE for the delivery, though. They're still the ones that do all the billing/service/support/etc.

But still, it somehow helps you feel like they're not getting AS much money, doesn't it? ;)

Read the fine print, the price is only lower for the summer months, plus you are locking in a price for 12 months. This could be a good deal, or could be like locking in gasoline for only $4.00/gallon for all of of 2009.

This thread blows.

I thought you preferred threads that suck..:innocent::eek:

I've been using Green Moutain 100% renewable for my energy since I moved out in 2005. Cost is on par with TXU, give or take a few bucks a month. Had to do something so I didn't feel bad about driving my full size pickup. ;)

Read the fine print, the price is only lower for the summer months, plus you are locking in a price for 12 months. This could be a good deal, or could be like locking in gasoline for only $4.00/gallon for all of of 2009.

Currently the 100% wind option is cheaper than my winter rate by 0.3 cents/kWh.

That is extremely cool!:thumb:


how goes the triathlons?
and the parenting?

I dont know mch about wind generated eletric but I think it may be better to produce your own than to buy it from someone else. Just my 2 little pennies. :)

Yeah, besides...what are you gonna do on days the wind isn't blowing?

Welcome back, Pete- glad to hear all is going well (well, except the training, but I can definitely sympathize...) Good for you for going with wind. We did this too a couple of years ago. The savings are pretty minimal, but the peace of mind in going with renewable energy is worth it even if it did cost more. A colleague of mine put in a geothermal system- that is freaking awesome (and so is the construction cost). I looked into it here in Philly, and they can even do it small backyards- they just drill down instead of across. Maybe when the initial expense comes down...

I dont know mch about wind generated eletric but I think it may be better to produce your own than to buy it from someone else. Just my 2 little pennies. :)

Buy me some land, put a windmill on it, and you've got a deal.

Buy me some land, put a windmill on it, and you've got a deal.

I'm envisioning one of those big-azzed windmills sticking out of my townhouse. That would fully rock. :)

Those windmill farms are amazing. It reminds me of something outta star wars.

I can rent my mother in law out for use to green folks. She is so long winded and full of hot air that she has become valuable.:innocent:

Being a closet tree hugger, I thought this was cool... The big utility companies in the DC area have been hiking rates for a while now, and for the first time it's actually CHEAPER to switch to wind power. There's a company called Clean Currents that sells green energy from wind farms and makes it available through your electric company.

It'll actually save us a couple bucks a month on our electric bill too... Just thought it was kinda cool. :)

https://www.cleancurrents.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=88


I've thought about doing the same. The city council recently modified/lifted the ban on wind generator turbines for private ownership. There used to be a policy in place that didn't allow them for asthetic reasons. The nice thing is if I end up with a power surplus for the month I can feed the grid and actually get paid. That's not my reason for doing this. The local electrical utility has been jacking up the rates quite a bit in the last couple of years which is making the initial cost more feasible. I'm just about passed the initial research phase. Maybe in the next few months I'll finally have this completed.

Chad's Colnago? Where'd you come from? I haven't seen you in here for ages.

Whazzup bud?

I can rent my mother in law out for use to green folks. She is so long winded and full of hot air that she has become valuable.:innocent:

nice:lol:

Buy me some land, put a windmill on it, and you've got a deal.

I own a tiny row home with a tiny yard and Im pretty sure I could set up a windmill large enough to keep some batteries charged. :thumb:
now, if your problem is the cash needed to do such a thing then I completely understand as Im in the same boat.

I can rent my mother in law out for use to green folks. She is so long winded and full of hot air that she has become valuable.:innocent:

She was always valuable, you just never had a use for her till now. ;)