Bunny Sitting

Some fun bunny sitting for a neighbor.  Just try to switch their water bottles out...

Bunny & Waterbowl...

GVEA Rates @ 96W: Do the math

Fairbanks, Alaska GVEA Rates as of 09/01/2011:

Each meter: $17.50/month
Utility charge: $0.08791/kWh/month
Fuel charge: $0.10924/kWh/month
Regulatory: $0.000492/kWh/month

What is the cost if you left a 96W light bulb on all the time?

First, calculate the kWh for the month, lets say 30 days on average.

30 days X 24 hours = 720 hours/month

720 hours X 96 Watts = 69120 Watt hours (Wh)

1000 W in 1 kW ==> 69.120 kWh of power used per month

Now multiply 69.12 kWh against the rates to get the cost of running 96W all day for a 30 day month:

For simplicity, we add all the rates up: $0.20207/kWh

69.12 kWh X $0.20207/kWh = $13.97 per month in power & regulatory fees.

With the meter charge, your nearly 100W light bulb is costing you $31.47 per month (or $377.64 per year).  That is some expensive light bulb!  No wonder they give out light bulbs for free at the annual meeting.

What things do you leave on all day?

What is left to save?

Here is an example. The power we are trying to save is the amps along the green line. During the day the system is consuming an average 4 amps. The higher spikes is the oil heater making hot water. If the system was turned off during idle periods, we could be conserving amp hours to stretch into our third day.

Additional note:

4 amps? This isn't 4 amps at 120V but 24V. Our phantom load is 96W or less than 1 amp at 120V (roughly 0.8 amps at 120V). So, at idle times we have a 100W light bulb on all the time. If we shut the house down, the inverter will consume much less.

Fall/Winter 2011 Project: More Power System Automation

We are still looking for ways to save energy and money on running the house, primarily during the winter. We are looking at a design that will potentially expand the same battery bank to last for 3 days instead of 2 days. Many of the parts have already been purchased. The one piece I could not find in Fairbanks is a torque wrench that can reasonably show me a torque of 3 1/2 newton meters. The standard torque wrenches from a auto supply store are factors much higher than that.

Why 3 1/2 newton meters (approximately 2+ foot pounds)? That is what is suggested by the inverter manufacturer when tightening the lug nuts for the connection. Higher pressure and you risk breaking the lugs (and voiding the warranty).

Hastings Fire Update

Rainy days have helped fire fighters gain ground on containment. The fire is now considered to be 25% contained. We continue to be off and on with showers and cool. It is good to see this fire under control! Over 10 million dollars! Operations are beginning to wind down, daily cost is under one million. Still a bunch of folks working on the fire.

Fire Name:	Hastings
Daily Record For:	Jun 13, 2011
Status:	S/U
Estimated Acres:	23110
Incident Commander:	Tom Kurth
Personnel Count:	995
Daily Cost:	$860,105.00

Summary:

Thunder storms, steep terrain and limited access are hampering control efforts. Todays observed fire behavior was only smoldering and creeping.On the northeast flank crews are working to secure the fire`s edge west along Washington Creek. Crews continue to go on direct line construction north of the Chatanika River on the southeast flank. Crews on the west flank continue to build direct line north toward Washington Creek. Equipment and supplies that are no longer needed for the fire are being returned. Crews on the west flank will continue to build and secure line from H-20 north toward Washington Creek. Direct line will be constructed on the south flank north of the Chatanika River. Mop-up will continue on the northeast flank and West along Washington Creek. Crews on the north flank along Washington Creek will hot spot and extinguish areas as located near the fire`s lower extension along the creek bottom. The field delivered S-420 began today.

Fire Year:	2011
Sequence #:	271
Estimated Acres:	23110
AFS Code:	F4D8
DOF Code:	111271
USFS Code:	PNF4D8
Total Cost:	$10,738,782.00
Structures Threatened:	1405
Structures Burned:	2
Management Org.:	DOF
Office:	FAS
Option:	FULL
Latitude:	65.0333328
Longitude:	-148.3500061
Origin Owner:	STA
Discovery Time:	May 30, 2011 11:45:11 PM
Initial Behavior:	Rank 5

Primary Fuel Type:

Mixed (Hardwoods/Softwoods)

Fire Type:	Unknown
Origin Slope:	0-25
Origin Aspect:	Unknown
Origin Elevation:	0-500
Township:	002N
Range:	003W
Section:	7
Quarter:	SWNW
Meridian:	Fairbanks
Updated:	Jun 14, 2011

Update from AICC (looks like InciWeb is down at the moment), the latest info from the GIS system:

Fire Name:	Hastings
Daily Record For:	Jun 6, 2011
Status:	S/U
Estimated Acres:	12770
Incident Commander:	Tom Kurth
Personnel Count:	563
Daily Cost:	$873,440.00

Summary:

An evacuation advisory was issued for residents of the Hayes Creek Subdivision. Burnout operations occurred on the East side of the fire. Aviation assets assisted with slowing the fire`s growth along the east flank. Fire continues to advance on the East side along the dozer line at the top of the ridge. Boats are assisting with structure protection on the Chatanika River. Preparations continue in the McCloud subdivision and along Old Murphy Dome Road.Dozers will continue constructing contingency lines east of the fire. Crews will continue constructing direct line on both the west and south flanks. Structure protection efforts will continue along the Chatanika River. Crews will continue structure protection efforts in Hayes, McCloud, and Desperation Loop. There is Red Flag Warning for strong winds in effect tomorrow from 2PM to 10 PM. Winds from the SW 8-15 mph with local gusts to 25mph.25,464 gallons of retardant were dropped by airtankers and Ducks dropped 39,000 gallons of water.

Fire Year:	2011
Sequence #:	271
Estimated Acres:	12019
AFS Code:	F4D8
DOF Code:	111271
USFS Code:	PNF4D8
Total Cost:	$3,756,542.00
Structures Threatened:	1405
Structures Burned:	2
Management Org.:	DOF
Office:	FAS
Option:	FULL
Latitude:	65.0333328
Longitude:	-148.3500061
Origin Owner:	Unknown
Origin Admin Unit:	Unknown
Discovery Time:	May 30, 2011 11:45:11 PM
Initial Behavior:	Rank 5

Primary Fuel Type:

Mixed (Hardwoods/Softwoods)

Fire Type:	Unknown
Origin Slope:	0-25
Origin Aspect:	Unknown
Origin Elevation:	0-500
Township:	002N
Range:	003W
Section:	7
Quarter:	SWNW
Meridian:	Fairbanks
Updated:	Jun 7, 2011

Updated fire map

Updated fire map as of June 7th. Containment is 8%. Quote from a June 7th posting:

"HASTINGS INCIDENT SAFETY MESSAGE 06‐07‐11

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS FIRE ISN’T BEHAVING. IN FACT

ITS BEHAVIOR IS EXTREME. THE WEATHER ISN’T

COOPERATING EITHER."