Solar power systems for the home

[Bigtime]

I’d say yes, so far so good. Key thing will be to upgrade the solar array this spring to compensate for all the extra electrical usage. Then over a year I can be as close to net zero as possible.

[gasman]

Does the heat pump heat exchanger take up much footprint outside? We don't have a lot of good locations near our utility room outside, the only place would be the current location of the air conditioning condenser, would that unit replace the AC?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Look Ma, no gas!



Alert the war room.

I meant to ask about this previously but I forgot to, why did they remove the gas meter even though you are using a heat pump? What if you wanted a gas line for your BBQ or appliances will it be costly to get a meter re-installed?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I meant to ask about this previously but I forgot to, why did they remove the gas meter even though you are using a heat pump? What if you wanted a gas line for your BBQ or appliances will it be costly to get a meter re-installed?

Meter is gone, that’s where it was. BBQ will go propane and we are not entertaining any gas appliances. All electric really, and our existing solar array will be upgraded to match new consumption levels.

[calgarygeologist]

I need an air cannon or something in order to fire salt up onto my roof to melt the snow off the panels. The sun has been beautiful the last three days but the panels aren't doing anything because of the snow. It is frustrating.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I need an air cannon or something in order to fire salt up onto my roof to melt the snow off the panels. The sun has been beautiful the last three days but the panels aren't doing anything because of the snow. It is frustrating.

You just need to get some coal dust on the snow and let the sun do the rest. They should make coal dust dispersal add-ons.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

You just need to get some coal dust on the snow and let the sun do the rest. They should make coal dust dispersal add-ons.

I don't care if it is coal dust, salt, anti freeze or piss I just need something on my roof to melt the snow off the panels.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I need an air cannon or something in order to fire salt up onto my roof to melt the snow off the panels. The sun has been beautiful the last three days but the panels aren't doing anything because of the snow. It is frustrating.

If you're in a 2 story you're out of luck. But if it's a bungalow, could a good stepladder and a telescoping roof shovel reach?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by chedder

If you're in a 2 story you're out of luck. But if it's a bungalow, could a good stepladder and a telescoping roof shovel reach?

Don't have a telescoping shovel or broom and I could only reach 3 out of 17 relatively easily (1st floor roof). I should get a drone and rig up some sort of dumping scoop and fly some salt up there.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Don't have a telescoping shovel or broom and I could only reach 3 out of 17 relatively easily (1st floor roof). I should get a drone and rig up some sort of dumping scoop and fly some salt up there.

A really big drone with powerful downwash?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Don't have a telescoping shovel or broom and I could only reach 3 out of 17 relatively easily (1st floor roof). I should get a drone and rig up some sort of dumping scoop and fly some salt up there.

Definitely don't do this. Salt on a solar panel es no bueno

If you want the panels to last, use a soft bristle or foam brush to remove the snow. The panels are very hardy, but there's a world of difference between glass that doesn't break for 30 years and glass that stays clear for 30 years

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Definitely don't do this. Salt on a solar panel es no bueno

If you want the panels to last, use a soft bristle or foam brush to remove the snow. The panels are very hardy, but there's a world of difference between glass that doesn't break for 30 years and glass that stays clear for 30 years

not salt.. obviously you have to use beet juice!

[Calgary14]

If my roof wasn't so high I would be up there often brushing the snow off the panels

[accord1999]

Nm

[the-rasta-masta]

I'm part of the sales team at Solar YYC here in Calgary. If anybody has questions about Solar, I'm happy to answer and help out in way I can.

There's lots of misinformation out there these days, specifically from the door knockers. I don't think they are doing it intentionally, I just don't think the training for something that does have some complexities isn't quite there sometimes.

Sincerely not mentioning this looking for sales, I believe anybody should be getting 3-4 quotes through the process, I'm just happy to answer questions for those of you considering.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Torture

Have all of my work for Greener Homes scheduled in March/April and just got an email that because I haven't done anything (aside from getting them to fix my account because I couldn't access it, and then applying for the loan/having that approved...) they've closed my file.

*facepalm*

I got the same thing. Very ####ing annoying. I've read everything and there has never ever really been a deadline on anything (except I think recently a deadline of this spring for the loans)...just a caveat that funding could run out at anytime. But funding has not run out so why the #### did they close our files? At no point was there any call to action to do something to keep them alive. I've emailed back explaining our circumstance but it's probably just $500 down the drain for the useless pre-assessment.

In our case it was my wife going on maternity leave a little over year ago and her being the main breadwinner made it an inopportune time for a major capital expense. Now that she's back we were planning to get back at this within a few months as our bank accounts restabilized

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Torture

Have all of my work for Greener Homes scheduled in March/April and just got an email that because I haven't done anything (aside from getting them to fix my account because I couldn't access it, and then applying for the loan/having that approved...) they've closed my file.

*facepalm*

I emailed them immediately when I got the message about closing the file, and they've just responded that the file will not close. So email ASAP and you should be able to keep it open!

[Torture]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I emailed them immediately when I got the message about closing the file, and they've just responded that the file will not close. So email ASAP and you should be able to keep it open!

Ditto - form message saying 'we won't close it because you emailed us' today so they must have had a lot of us.

[the-rasta-masta]

The reason the Greener Homes program is sending out those emails is that they are trying to actually determine how much of the fund remains. The program has always said that you have a year to use the funds after you get the energy assessment, but they haven’t actually been closing files. There are a ton of dated applications that they allocated grant money to that have not moved forward, and so they are sending these emails now to close out the older applications that have gone past that year, and also why they’ve put the March 31st deadline on new grant applications. They need to get a better idea of how much of the fund is actually used up as they are lobbying for refunding in the next federal budget. It doesn’t surprise me that emails letting them know you still intend to move forward are keeping those files open.

[Benched]

Is the new grant application timeline expiring March 31st - in reference to the 5k credit? Or to the interest free loan?

We’re in the system waiting on our install (with SolarYYC) but it hasn’t happened yet. Our loan is approved, we got the first bit of change from the government and we’re in the permit stage atm.

Just curious if by the time we’re installed, say April-May, that there is a chance the 5k rebate incentive is no longer there? Would we count as getting it still since we were approved last year and have already done and submitted our pre-assessment and upgrade plan?