Solar Energy and Oncor

Okay, groovy people-
We got an email from Oncor on December 17 saying that we've been "moved to Project Submitted status." Unlike what we were initially told, the email says that the process may take up to 30 days to complete... not 2 weeks.  Strike one.  Hopefully the letter was erring on the side of caution and the 2 weeks will be closer to correct.  We'll see.  (Along with this, the email went straight to SPAM and was not listed as being from Oncor so I didn't see it for a week. Guess I'll have to scrutinize things more carefully.)

What that means is that we've got our system installed but can't switch it on. Not happy about this.  We'll survive, but not a fan of inaccurate information from companies. 

Also I have yet to hear from the company about scheduling the work on the "blackout circuits".  In their defense, it has been Christmas holidays, so I guess I can cut them a little slack, but we ARE rolling into blackout season shortly.  A well...again...we'll see.

Interview with the Solar Panel Installer

Installation of the panels and electronics

So, we've got a crew of four installing the hardware for the solar system...brackets, racks, panels, inverter, and the connections.  They feel they'll get done today. At first they were a little nervous about the three story building, then they realized that the roof is only slightly pitched (15 deg) and consequently easy to work on.

brackets and racks for panels

So we're rocking!  As I wrote this, I got an email from the the company, O3 Home Solar, that we are ready to start the next step, connecting the system to the grid and dealing with the power company.  Moving along indeed.

UPDATE:  Tim and I discovered an issue.  We did not get the system that allows us to draw power during a blackout.  He was right that our contract didn't call for it.  So I called the office and spoke to Ronnie.  Between the two of them we figured out a solution and settled it very quickly and professionally.  It takes another service call, but we got it handled.  Yay.

[any further updates will be new posts]

Here Comes the Sun (doo bee doo bee)

Subtitled: Going Solar

Coming this Tuesday, December 17, 2019, we will have solar panels installed on our roof.  We are staying on grid for now and doing the buy-back option. Reliant/Oncor have a good buy-back program...we've been told.  We'll see how everything works.  Let's face it, it's not what we're used to and will take some adjustment.  We know some folks in town who have them from another company, but they've promised to help us with the rough bits we'll come to.

I'm going to post pictures, videos, Facebook streaming videos,  and narratives as we get them in and as we adjust to the panels.  Some things should stay exactly the same on our part.  Some things will change.  They're not a miracle, just another energy source.

For those of you who don't know, we intended to use solar from the beginning.  We're 90% + electrical for that reason.  In the future, as storage systems improve in quality and price we'll think about adding that to our system, but for now it's just a no go.  Anyway, I'll keep you posted.  Not every day, of course, but more frequently than usual at first.  After a while it will only be when there is an issue or a victory.

Thanks for reading.  I'll definitely have stuff on Tuesday.

Un año de progreso

A lot has happened in a year.

Since that last post we have been busy little worker ants.  We hosted Christmas for my extended family. (lots of fun) We moved into the upstairs.  Had AC/Heat installed building-wide.  Kathy is teaching yoga 4 times a week- 3 times at the Manor and once at Anytime Fitness.  I've started teaching acting classes twice a month (now on hiatus).  Kathy is painting again!! Woohoo!

I've also started to build a handicap accessible restroom on the main floor.  I keep running into roadblocks that slow down the progress, but I WILL PREVAIL.  We are hosting Christmas again this year and I want to have things in better shape than last year.  I've been focusing on the downstairs a lot more than the upstairs so upstairs is little changed...at least visibly.

There's been a lot more, but that's all for the blog.  Hopefully it'll be less than a year before the next post.  :)

Up and Running with Scissors

As usual there is a long delay between posts.  Well, one gets busy.  Since our last eventful entry, much has occurred.  Living Arts Yoga (Kathy) is now teaching yoga in the Manor's main hall!  Woohoo!  This gives Kathy more space to spread out and more opportunities for classes.  Results so far are mixed insomuch as her attendance has not increased much, but I'm sure that will come as we get the word out.  She can be read at here and on Facebook here.  We also have a sign out front for Living Arts Yoga.

We have A/C in both upstairs and street level (Main Hall) which helps tremendously when she has classes or when we get a rental.  We had the one "friend rental" for the ladies group, and we have a wedding reception coming up in October. Hoping to get the improvements done well before that time comes.  Even so, things are pretty good for groups to meet in the great hall.

Upstairs is coming along much more slowly, but we need to get moved in there.  We're not ready.  Much still to do upstairs.  I think I need to call a moratorium on rentals after October until we get moved in.  Need to focus my energy there.  It's hard though as money has pretty much run out for now.  So I can do things that require labor or materials that I already have.  Big purchases are not happening for a while. Next week I will detail more of the improvements we have made and add pictures, after we get the new internet up and running. [That's why no pictures today]

Bye for now.

House Away from Hot House

As stated, the A/C in or residence on Brazos St went blooey-- I think that's the technical term, yeah-- so it was getting pretty hot in the old homestead.  First it was a minor problem, but it was just the precursor to a total collapse of the system.  We don't understand...it was only 24 years old...what's the deal?

Anyway, while we're getting money together and an appointment with super busy A/C guys, we decide to camp out in the Manor.  We put up an air mattress, brought clothes and toiletries, and temporary kitchen stuff.  Kathy had her new tub.  Ooooh!  Aaaaahhhh!  and I had my new shower.  Yay.  The a/c there worked fine.  Things were okay.  We were there for 5 days.  I liked it.

The new system on Brazos is smaller, more efficient, and more effective than its predecessor. Good job.

I'm going to use some of the parts from the old unit to make an attic vent for the Manor.  All will be well.