Run Whole House on Wimpy Generator?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

What's wrong with the backup genset running offroad red?

It was a joke about charging an EV, which would then mean it's being driven on road powered by off-road red diesel.

We gotta close this loophole!

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

It was a joke about charging an EV, which would then mean it's being driven on road powered by off-road red diesel.

We gotta close this loophole!

I thought they banned it for residential heating in the uk last year as it was not considered a non taxable use. No point in using it though outside of emergency though. $/kWh is awful.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by hayden55

No point in using it though outside of emergency though. $/kWh is awful.

Cost of fuel per kWh isn't too insane though. For small gensets, I'm calculating something around $0.60 per kWh. I bet super efficient ones could get down to around $0.40 or lower, all depending on price of fuel of course.

Hawaii already has comparable electricity rates. It's almost a wash if you should produce your own power or connect to their grid.

If I lived in Hawaii, I'd have solar, batteries, and a genset that automatically tops up the batteries if the charge falls too low. The whole setup would probably pay off in 5 years.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by hayden55

I thought they banned it for residential heating in the uk last year as it was not considered a non taxable use.

How would such ban be enforced so easily? Well, sure kerosene would be easier to ignite than Diesel, so in theory that red Diesel wouldn't make much sense for home heating anyway. Not to mention kerosene usually still burns cleaner than Diesel.

[hayden55]

I'm not sure on the diesel but the Honda generator being the worst was was 10-15% efficient based on load. The chinese ones actually did better even getting up to 25% so it would take some ecoattention. 33.7kWh/gal*0.25=8.425kW out to a heater on the test. Gas is $2.99 so 2.99/8.425 = $0.35/Kwh
Even at our rate of $0.18/Kwh now we aren't quite that bad yet.
I agree though some cases it would make sense. Here if you didn't pull utilities and pay for any of that on a new house it would make sense to just go off grid up front and use a generator here and there for supplement.
OR Hawaii/NY etc... those with the big rates making it closer to making sense.

[redpoint5]

Ah, so my estimate wasn't that too far off, and I liked your method of calculation better.

I'd certainly consider off-grid for any high priced electricity markets on a new build.

[freebeard]

The purpose of Selfish Solar is to insulate you from zoning ordinances. The minimum monthly payment is a payoff.

Would your hypothetical 'new build' have free air conditioning? Prefer Ultrawhite or Plasmonic paint?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by hayden55

Here if you didn't pull utilities and pay for any of that on a new house it would make sense to just go off grid up front and use a generator here and there for supplement.

Most likely that's what I would have done if I lived in a dettached house instead of an apartment. Convincing the neighbors to go off-the-grid wouldn't be easy. I'd also consider using rainwater, even though going totally off-the-grid and not having pipe water would be quite challenging.

[freebeard]

...going totally off-the-grid and not having pipe water would be quite challenging.

Gray water filtration through lily ponds and eventually Elon Musk's heat pump that provides drinking water.

[redpoint5]

I wouldn't mind if all my baths were a dip in the spring. Also don't find it compelling to pee in a bowl of water, but that's another topic.