stinkycheese’s Recent Comments

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  An issue with the tankless models is scale build-up; if you're in an area with hard water, you may want to invest in a water softener. With a solar heating system, it wouldn't be as big a concern since the solar heating loop (the piping from your water heater to the rooftop system) would be a closed-loop mixture of food-safe antifreeze and distilled water, for freeze protection. With the kids in the house, make sure that your solar contractor installs a mixing valve on the water heater tank outlet; solar can get that tank pretty hot and you don't want 140F (OK, 60C) water coming out of a faucet or showerhead!On Ask Umbra on replacing hot-water heaters posted 1 month ago 21 Responses

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  The term "hybrid" refers to the fact that several sources work together to turn the car's wheels. In a Prius, the battery can propel the car, or the gas engine can propel the car. The volt is essentially an EV with a range-extending generator onboard; the gas engine just charges the batteries, and does not power the wheels directly.

  Well, that's what I'd heard anyway. Then I saw this, which apparently says you can call the volt a hybrid, albeit a "series hybrid" rather than the Prius "parallel hybrid." How embarrassing after my snarky comment! :)

  http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/02/greenlings-what-is-a-series-hybrid-extended-range-electric-vehi/

  -sc

  On GM seeks to outdo Toyota with plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 9 Responses

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  Contrary to the headling, the Volt is not a plug-in hybrid, as is explained in... um... the above article.

  "Krebs had doubts about the fuel economy figures cited by GM, noting that 'we’re learning from various experts, like battery makers, that the figures are not realistic.'"

  These figures ARE realistic, it's just that they aren't comparable. You can get anywhere between 50mpg (if you are an idiot and never plug in your Volt) and infinity mpg (by only charging and never using the range-extending gas engine). Hopefully they have some better way to work this out by the time the Volt (and its eventual competitors) reach the market.

  On GM seeks to outdo Toyota with plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt posted 2 months, 4 weeks ago 9 Responses

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  So if households can find a way to save 2 kWh/day, they'll cover this projected increase! Awesome. I look forward to hearing Newt tell us how this 23c/day increase will destroy the American family,

  On U.S. climate bill would raise energy costs slightly, study finds posted 3 months ago 1 Response

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  Just as a note, the solar pool heaters are NOT eligible for the 30% tax credit, which applies to solar power and solar [domestic] water heating systems. If you're in a warm climate, solar heaters are definitely the way to go. They cost less to install than a non-solar heater, and of course their operational costs are much, much less--to operate, they just need your pump to run.

  On Ask Umbra on solar pool heaters posted 3 months, 1 week ago 9 Responses