[an]

[quote=svelte]Was trying to find my way back to RR airport in DC this week. My passenger pulled out his iPhone with iOS 6 and tried to get directions by saying “directions to Ronald Reagan International Airport” into the phone. I had made it back to the airport before his phone coughed up the first voice instruction![/quote]
But if you talk to any iPhone fan, they’ll tell you how smooth and pretty and map UI is. They’ll even show you the 3D map feature that’s only available in some cities (SD is not one of those cities). They’ll just brush aside the data problem and say it’ll get better with time.

[an]

joec, although I like DIY, I tend to shy away from big project. Solar IMHO is a huge project. So, I leave it to the pro.

[an]

[quote=no_such_reality]You still did the right thing, which is maximize what you could do.

Our roof doesn’t face the right way either. We’re east/west roof with west in some shade. So we have our panels facing east on the slope and open to the south. Best we could do.

That said, the solar estimated for kind of the minimum system to take us down to just below tier 3 pricing.[/quote]
I’m partially lucky, in that our roof face North and South. However, the South side is much smaller than the North side. So, our system will take us deep into tier 2 during the Winter months and low to mid tier 3 during the summer months. Financially, that’s the best, since tier 1 and 2 from SDG&E are cheaper than solar. But it would be cool to if I could have spent another 50% more and have my entire bill covered.

[an]

[quote=enron_by_the_sea][quote=ucodegen]]You can also set up Firefox to clean out all cookies when you close or exit Firefox. Some websites need cookies to function.. this allows these to function, then when you close Firefox.. the cookies disappear. Also helps with reducing being ‘tracked’ by websites. To really do it right though, you need to blow/wipe the browser cache when exiting too. (unfortunately not an option on Firefox)[/quote]

Or if that is too inconvinient, you can probably fire up “incognito window” in chrome and use it to go to the site …[/quote]
Or you can use IE10, which have “Do Not Track” feature turned on by default.

[an]

[quote=no_such_reality][quote=AN]NSR, do you mean inverter instead of converter?[/quote]

Yes, the transformer inverter, although I think transformerless inverters are now available.

There’s a boatload of sizes, but a few sizes at any technology level, if you’re following what I’m saying.

So we have a SunnyBoy Inverter.

This is the SunnyBoy – 5000 (5kW)
http://www.wholesalesolar.com/products.folder/inverter-folder/SB5000US.html

This is the SunnyBoy – 8000 (8kW)
http://www.wholesalesolar.com/products.folder/inverter-folder/SB8000US.html

The cost looks like wholesale is about $600. Not including install (the same), or those add-ins (the same).

So if you’re looking at $25K for a total system, adding $600 for a larger inverter and a few more panels won’t bump you that much. Probably an additional $2-$3K for 2-3kW more panels.[/quote]
I agree with you. But not all of us have the luxury of having the correct facing roof with big enough space to fit all the panels you need. For me, the maximum number of panels I can fit on my roof is 15. If I go with regular inverter, then the max number of panels I can put on my roof is 12 (multiple of 4), so, we decided to go with an Enphase micro-inverter (1 inverter per panel). It’s a little more expensive, but it allow me to get the max number of panels on my roof.

[an]

NSR, do you mean inverter instead of converter?

[an]

[quote=flu]Morale of the story that I learned. In this environment do a no cost loan if you can…Chances are rates are going to go down further.[/quote]
I would go further and say, do a negative points loan if you can. I’ve been doing this for the last 3-4 refi and the credit have been paying for my taxes and insurance for the last couple of years.

[an]

[quote=UCGal][quote=treehugger]Trying to figure out if it is worth it. We are in process of researching a pool, but not sure how the solar helps off-set the cost if the pool/spa heater is gas? From what everyone we have talked with says the new pumps are so efficient they don’t use a lot of electricity. I had thought a pool was expensive, but apparently only if I heat it?
[/quote]

Maybe all my friends have older pump systems… It’s the pump costs that are the issue.[/quote]
Yep, it’s the pump that matter. When we first bought the house, it came with a 1.5HP single speed pump. So it always run at full power. During the summer, you don’t really want the water to sit idle mid-day. That’s just asking for algae to grow. So, you use a lot of power when you have to run ~6 hrs. durning the summer months. My first 2 months electricity bill was HUGE. I then immediately bought a variable speed pump. Now, I run my pump at slow speed (I think it comes out to be about 1/2HP) for 12 hrs. and I just A LOT less electricity. It’s only when I want to use to pool (heating it up to 90-93 degrees) where the bill went up. Not only because of the gas that’s needed to run the pool heater, but I need to turn on pool pump to Max power, so the water would turn over much quicker and the entire pool would be at the desirable temperature quicker.

To show you how little the new variable speed pool pump uses, during the months where I don’t use AC and have no Christmas lights, my usage is around mid 600kWh/month. With Christmas light, it jumps to 800kWh and during the summer where my AC runs 24/7 at 73 degrees, it gets to about 1100 kWh. Keep in mind that I have people home all day long and my computer is on 24/7 and my TV is on a lot too. I’m not sure how much you use, but my parents’ usage is in the mid 400kWh, and they only use power 3-5 hrs. during the weekday.

[an]

[an]

[quote=CA renter]It might be better to combine test scores with in-class observations and (perhaps) parent and student input.[/quote]
I totally agree with this too. I would never suggest test scores being the only measurement. Maybe, we can have students and parents input, principal input, AND possibly a camera in the classroom as proof, on whether the teachers are really doing their job or not. Maybe limit the camera to the classrooms where the teachers think they’re unfairly judged.

[an]

I didn’t get it installed yet. We’re waiting for permits from the city. Should have it install in the next couple of weeks though (hoping). So, I can’t speak about the installer’s quality. Although, they’re not your fly by night shop. They actually did large jobs for SDG&E and the city. So, I’m hoping they’ll be around. Their workmanship warranty is 10 years, while the manufacture warranty is 25 years. I pick brand name panels (Sharp), so, it’s not likely that Sharp will go out of business. They’re too diverse to sink like other solar only companies.

Their price is also the lowest, without ANY haggling. So, if you want this contact, I’d gladly give it to you. The system I got is 15 x 240W panels. So, it’s a 3.6kWh system. I would get bigger, but the way my roof is, I can only fit 15 panels. I went with the Enphase micro-inverter because if I don’t, then I won’t be able to have 15 panels. IIRC, the max I could have w/out micro-inverter is 12 (they go in sets of 4). Price wise, it will be around $10.8k after all the credits. It “should” produce about 430kWh a month. I’m currently using between 700-1100kWh a month, so it would put me mostly in tier 1 and 2 and during the summer months, tier 3. I did a rough estimate of how much my bill would be w/ solar and I’m seeing myself saving between 100-200/month. So, assuming SDG&E doesn’t increase their rates, my saving is ~$1800/year. So, it would take 6 years to break even. Then everything after that is gravy. Now, if SDG&E raise their rate, my break even will come even faster.

Due to my roof position and the max 15 panels, buying makes more sense. If, 10 years from now, they come up with panels that are 2x as efficient, then I can just buy the panel, have some electrician to come out and replace it. Then sell the old one. I wouldn’t really need to pull permits, since it’s just swapping one for another. That would allow solar to cover even more of my bills. Leasing would not give me that option.

[an]

I recently checked into solar buy vs lease (monthly and pre-pay). I end up going with buying. I ruled out monthly leasing early on, because it’s super expensive when you add it all up. It’s only good if you have no cash. If you do have cash, I would suggest one of the other two options. The reason I buy is because:
1) it’s mine, so after 20 years, I don’t have to give it back or buy it out (who knows what the price they set then). So, if the system actually stay functioning well past 25 years (since that’s when its warranty ends), then your average monthly cost would be lower.
2) flexibility. If you sell the house, you don’t have to worry about buying out the system. If you don’t have the money to buy out the system, you’d have to make sure the buyer would want to take over your lease and is qualified (credit wise) to take over the lease. I don’t think you can buy out the system early. IIRC, you have two times to buy it out, either at 7 years or 20 years. You have to pick that date ahead of time.
3) you’re locked into the current technology. Solar, like any other technology, I expect to improve over time and get cheaper. If this holds true, 10 years from now, I can sell my panel on craigslist and buy new, more efficient panel. Especially if my usage goes up. You can’t do this with leasing.

Now, the pro for leasing are:
1) no worry about maintenance (although I’ve talked to a couple honest sales guy and they said they haven’t had a service call ever).
2) no up front cost for monthly lease and lower than buy price (after all rebate) if you do prepay. Prepay was around $1-2k cheaper. However, you still have to buy out the system at a later date. So, the total cost would most likely be more expensive than buy.

[an]

[quote=jstoesz]I think the solution is a step or two back…

The problem most people see is a lack of accountability with Teachers. We could extend this problem to say their is a lack of accountability with schools (districts, administrators, teachers, etc.)

The solution to this problem is school choice. If parents can choose where their kids go to school, their is no need to for all of these fancy statistical metrics. Some would be helpful in supplying families accurate knowledge of their schools, but not to the same level we have today.

If we open up school districts monopoly on kids, where they go to school, how they are taught, when they are taught etc. All of these problems will be self regulating.

Sure some parents wont give a crap where their kids go to school, but the schools they attend will naturally be bettered by all the new accountability infused into the education system.[/quote]
Agree 100%.

[an]

Japanese is definitely the most expensive, out of all the Asian foods. Due to the raw fish factor. The cheapest, I think is Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese. These food are heavy on rice. The meat is there to give you some nutrition but is not meant to be the main source for filling you up. That’s where rice comes in. I know that if you’re not used to eating this way, it might not work, but for me, it works well and save me a lot of $$. Also, one of the cheapest yet satisfying meal is when I boil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_aquatica. I eat this boiled veggie dipped in fish sauce and also use the water I boiled the veggie in as soup. This won’t give you the protein you’d need, so I wouldn’t do this everyday. But it’s a cheap way to get full, and for me, it’s delicious :-).

I agree that Asian markets are far away from you. So saving might not be as enticing. For me, there are 3 Asian supermarkets in Mira Mesa and 1 more on its way. We rarely go to 99 anymore. Zion is cheaper for veggie and we buy meat fresh at the supermarkets in MM when we’re ready to eat. There’s one 5 blocks away from me.

If you decide to try and eat inexpensive Asian food, you should also make sure you’re eating it Asian style. I.E. a lot of rice and a little meat, vs what you might have been accustom to, which is a lot of meat and a little carb.

[an]

[quote=CA renter]Okay, our family eats more meat, and I think the prices per unit are pretty low. Is that Costco, or? Also, the price for veggies is close, but also seems pretty low. We eat more veggies, and probably more fruit (we eat way too much fruit!). We’ll be working more on our garden this fall, too, so hope to be more like your aunt soon! We don’t feed our kids cheap calories, which is probably why our food bills are so high. What about drinks, spices, etc. to go into the food?

No matter what, if you’re really keeping your total bill at $600 or less, you are doing exceedingly well. I’m going to use some of your ideas here to see if we can bring ours down as well.

Thanks for everyone’s input on this! :)[/quote]
I figure you guys would eat more meat. Asian cooking tend to cook the meat in a way (through seasonings) where you don’t really want to eat too much meat at one time. Not like you can with a slab of steak. So, the same amount of meat can feed a lot more people than if you just lightly season and bake a slab of steak. We also love our rice. So, when you fill your stomach with rice, you tend to also eat less meat as well.

In term of price, I find the Asian supermarkets (most of the time), have meat and veggies that are much cheaper. Have you tried out Zion market in Clairemont? Here’s their weekly special: http://zionmarket.com/sale/store1.htm. As you can see, 1lb of shrimp is $4.99, or whole chicken for $1.59, or pork spare ribs for $2.99/lb, or napa cabbage 3lb for $0.99, or 3 head of lettuce is $0.99, or 2lb of plum for $0.99. You can find plenty of meat at other Asian supermarket either in Mira Mesa or 99 Ranch that have several different cut of meet for less that $5/lb. Our cheap calories is rice. We love rice and I would feel like I’m missing something if I don’t have rice for a few days. When we’re lazy, we can take one fillet of fish, season it well and bake it. That one fillet can feed both of us. This is also my favorite: http://www.theravenouscouple.com/2009/08/ca-kho-to-vietnamese-braised-fish-in-clay-pot.html. It’s super cheap to make and it’s salty & sweet enough that you would eat a lot of rice with it, so you don’t actually eat a lot of fish.

Regarding drinks, my house is water only. We don’t buy soda, or beer or wine. Spices are cheap and they last a long time, so I didn’t really count them in. Fish sauce, soy sauce, and oyster sauce are some of our main seasoning. They’re $2-3/bottle and the last for months.

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