tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762293635463803805.post4741953932845391738..comments2022-10-19T15:54:10.874-07:00Comments on Guesstimated approximations: Energy efficient behaviour paysAngus Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01518875828382696708noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762293635463803805.post-23648910498196858932014-11-30T14:57:34.033-08:002014-11-30T14:57:34.033-08:00Hi Chris,
Yes, at the moment we're exporting 3...Hi Chris,<br />Yes, at the moment we're exporting 3 kWh for every 1 kWh we draw (from a 2 kW solar PV system). I think we're using 3 - 4 kWh/day on average at the moment (though it is hard to work out exactly, because our metering doesn't measure our consumption of power that we've generated directly). I've written a blog post about our current consumption here:<br />http://guesstimatedapproximations.blogspot.com/2014/10/power-consumption-at-my-house.html<br /><br />Totally agree re:business. I've come to realise that social and personal skills are much more important than technical skills as a determinant of success! (in any area)<br /><br />Regarding A/C, I think the best solution (in SA, at least, where it's dry) is evaporative (provided that plenty of clean water is available). Evaporative A/C uses about 10 - 20% of the energy of reverse-cycle -- but it doesn't work well when the weather is humid.<br /><br />But as far as reverse-cycle A/C goes, I think you're right. There are some very efficient split-systems available these days and if the external unit (condenser when operating to cool the house interior) is located sensibly (in a relatively cool place -- eg. not in the afternoon sun ;-) ) they can work reasonably well -- but still no where near as efficient as an evaporative cooler!<br /><br />Cheers, AngusAngus Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01518875828382696708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762293635463803805.post-60289259457952286072014-11-30T00:40:45.694-08:002014-11-30T00:40:45.694-08:00Hi Angus. 5-6kWh / day is a very good outcome. Inc...Hi Angus. 5-6kWh / day is a very good outcome. Incidentally, in SA, you could easily produce that much energy 365 days per year with solar PV. It would be interesting to hear a blog entry about how you are going now in SA with your usage?<br />Your observation about your tenants in Brisbane is very true about human behaviour. The same is true for businesses too, in that two different people can run the same business very differently. I'm far less interested these days in what people earn, but it is what they do with what they earn which is the interesting thing.<br />Incidentally, the air conditioning system which exhausts to the outside world is the most efficient arrangement. There has been a bit of discussion about portable air-conditioning units over at the Energy Matters Forum. The upshot is that the portable units which exhaust into a room both heat and cool the air at the same time, so achieve nothing.<br />Cheers. ChrisFernglade Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06950962122594709186noreply@blogger.com