This has been a doozy of a year. And it’s the best year so far blah blah. So how are you all coping? Does it hit anyone else like a bolt of lightning that probably I - we - won’t die of old age?

  • Hello_there@fedia.io
    1·
    3 months ago

    related… There are now ac/heat pump mini split units that are set up to be linked directly to solar panel systems and run offgrid or with grid assist.
    This is great for a few reasons:

    1. solar radiance and need for cooling are related.
    2. if you hook directly to solar you don’t need to convert AC current to DC and lose 10-20% of the energy.
    3. if you dont tie the system to the grid, you might be able to avoid the use induction effect. That is, installing air conditioning tends to make people use more grid energy.
    4. It also helps with adding solar capacity to people who have electrical issues in their house and can’t get typical solar install, or who can’t add more solar capacity due to net metering edicts by their utilities, or dont want to pull permits for electrical work.

    I’ve had my eye on a system from Airspool here in the US - should help with these warmer summers and help offset a little of the heating need in the winter too.

    I would look into a full central system - but I have a relatively new gas furnace and can’t justify replacing it and dealing with all the required electrical work.