Comments on: Don’t Unplug Your Customers http://matthewebel.com/main/2008/07/20/dont-unplug-your-customers/ The Official Website of Matthew Ebel Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:23:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Christopher S. Penn http://matthewebel.com/main/2008/07/20/dont-unplug-your-customers/#comment-1475 Christopher S. Penn Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:58:44 +0000 http://matthewebel.com/main/?p=662#comment-1475 The irony is that according to the DOE, Block Island is *ideally* suited for virtually every form of alternative energy there is. It gets great wind for windmills, constant sun, and waves for wave-motion generation. If any restaurant on Block Island were to deploy even a few solar panels or a small marine windmill, they could not only recoup the cost, not only offer free power to their customers, but also sell energy back to BIPCO at a hefty premium. http://tinyurl.com/netmeter Rhode Island is one of 29 states that has mandated net-metering under 25 MW. Thus, any utility is required to buy back power generated privately under 25 MW. A Sunforce 44444 is $600 and can generate 400W, or 9.6 kWh per day. It would take just shy of 6 months (assuming good winds all day) to pay for itself in power saved, and everything after that is gravy you can bill back to BIPCO. Even if the payback window is a year, most small wind turbines are rated for 10 years. Who wouldn't want a pure profit center for 9 years, plus bragging rights that you're the ONLY green shop on the island? Added bonus - the unit is 46 inches wide. That's it. No mega-tower. Hey, who knows, you stay on that island long enough and maybe we'll see Osprey Power & Light. The irony is that according to the DOE, Block Island is *ideally* suited for virtually every form of alternative energy there is. It gets great wind for windmills, constant sun, and waves for wave-motion generation.

If any restaurant on Block Island were to deploy even a few solar panels or a small marine windmill, they could not only recoup the cost, not only offer free power to their customers, but also sell energy back to BIPCO at a hefty premium.

http://tinyurl.com/netmeter

Rhode Island is one of 29 states that has mandated net-metering under 25 MW. Thus, any utility is required to buy back power generated privately under 25 MW.

A Sunforce 44444 is $600 and can generate 400W, or 9.6 kWh per day. It would take just shy of 6 months (assuming good winds all day) to pay for itself in power saved, and everything after that is gravy you can bill back to BIPCO. Even if the payback window is a year, most small wind turbines are rated for 10 years. Who wouldn’t want a pure profit center for 9 years, plus bragging rights that you’re the ONLY green shop on the island? Added bonus - the unit is 46 inches wide. That’s it. No mega-tower.

Hey, who knows, you stay on that island long enough and maybe we’ll see Osprey Power & Light.

]]> By: Matthew Ebel http://matthewebel.com/main/2008/07/20/dont-unplug-your-customers/#comment-1474 Matthew Ebel Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:55:57 +0000 http://matthewebel.com/main/?p=662#comment-1474 Frosty- Not yet, I was waiting until I saw actual Block Island power figures. Now that I know it's still less than a dollar a week for heavy use, I'm going to find a new place to eat breakfast and write Aldo's a letter. They won't care. Frosty-

Not yet, I was waiting until I saw actual Block Island power figures. Now that I know it’s still less than a dollar a week for heavy use, I’m going to find a new place to eat breakfast and write Aldo’s a letter. They won’t care.

]]> By: Frostbite http://matthewebel.com/main/2008/07/20/dont-unplug-your-customers/#comment-1472 Frostbite Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:41:28 +0000 http://matthewebel.com/main/?p=662#comment-1472 Did you tell the proprietors why you would not be coming back? Did you tell the proprietors why you would not be coming back?

]]> By: Zimmie http://matthewebel.com/main/2008/07/20/dont-unplug-your-customers/#comment-1462 Zimmie Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:47:13 +0000 http://matthewebel.com/main/?p=662#comment-1462 Alright. Figured as much, but like I said, I'm the kind of guy who likes to be absolutely sure. Alright. Figured as much, but like I said, I’m the kind of guy who likes to be absolutely sure.

]]> By: Matthew Ebel http://matthewebel.com/main/2008/07/20/dont-unplug-your-customers/#comment-1461 Matthew Ebel Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:53:13 +0000 http://matthewebel.com/main/?p=662#comment-1461 Zimmie- Oh yes, they have specifically mentioned that it's because they were spending a ton of money on electricity. There was a man sitting next to me as I was typing this who paid them $7 to get them to uncover an outlet and let him plug in. That man could've funded my laptop use for the next 15 weeks. Zimmie-

Oh yes, they have specifically mentioned that it’s because they were spending a ton of money on electricity. There was a man sitting next to me as I was typing this who paid them $7 to get them to uncover an outlet and let him plug in.

That man could’ve funded my laptop use for the next 15 weeks.

]]> By: Zimmie http://matthewebel.com/main/2008/07/20/dont-unplug-your-customers/#comment-1460 Zimmie Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:43:47 +0000 http://matthewebel.com/main/?p=662#comment-1460 Did you actually ask them if this is why the outlets are covered? I ask because it's possible the fire marshall came and ordered them to do it or that sort of thing. Down in Houston, there was a big datacenter that had an explosion in their power distribution room. They had plenty of backup generator capacity, but the fire marshall told them that they could not use that room to distribute it. I know this for two reasons. First, I'm big into data security, and that means maintaining services even when a site is totally down. Second, I'm involved with Furry Fiesta, and that data center was hosting our site. ;-) Anyway, just wanted to say that it's *possible* that there's nothing sinister going on. Could be just a poorly wired building or something. Did you actually ask them if this is why the outlets are covered? I ask because it’s possible the fire marshall came and ordered them to do it or that sort of thing. Down in Houston, there was a big datacenter that had an explosion in their power distribution room. They had plenty of backup generator capacity, but the fire marshall told them that they could not use that room to distribute it.

I know this for two reasons. First, I’m big into data security, and that means maintaining services even when a site is totally down. Second, I’m involved with Furry Fiesta, and that data center was hosting our site. ;-)

Anyway, just wanted to say that it’s *possible* that there’s nothing sinister going on. Could be just a poorly wired building or something.

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