New Blog

Hi All, whether you're just now seeing this blog for the first time or have been following it for a while, we obviously haven't been keeping it up to date, however, we've started a new blog that we'd love to have you come visit.  We'll try to keep it updated and it's more generic related to "Green" things.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy coming up with various articles.

Please visit www.SwayneyShadeofGreen.com

Thanks All!

2 mwh !!!

We just completed our second mwh!  The production is really starting to pick up now that the sun is getting higher and days are getting longer.  We're excited to see what this thing will pump out this summer, bring on the sunshine!

Water System

Not sure if I've talked much about our water treatment system.  The same week we moved in we had an Iron Shield with Toxin Guard filtration system installed by Easywater.  It doesn't use chemicals or anything it simply removes stuff from the water and then every couple of night does a backwash to clean itself.  (pictured below, tall black tank).
It only uses a few watts of power for the lit display, it uses a little more power to run the pumps during backwash cycle but only about like running a light bulb for the time it does the cleaning.









My latest addition as of yesterday 2/15 was an electronic descaler (water softener).  This was an easy do-it-yourself addition, it uses wire coils wrapped around the incoming water supply line, it then creates a magnetic field which changes the physical structure of calcium and other elements that cause hard water.  It doesn't remove anything from the water like the salt systems but at the same time it doesn't add back anything either, like salt.  The modified elements are supposed to be less "sticky" after passing through the coils so that they don't build up or bond to surfaces.  They say it may take a couple months before we notice the difference, so more to come on this one.
Update:  for those curious it does run continuously but only uses 3 watts of power, I check and track everything I plug in to see what the power consumption will be.

1 mWh

We reached our 1st mWh today!  Right after installing the system we wondered how long it would take to produce our first mWh and decided we'd make that a little milestone of ours.  So its been about 2.5 months but they have been the shortest days of the year so we can't wait to se how they do this summer!

I just wanted to edit the post about the 1 mWh and include a photo of the Enphase unit showing 1.01mWh!!!

Counting to a mWh

We are counting up to our first mWh, we're sitting at 978 kWh, unfortunately it was cloudy today and supposed to be raining some tomorrow....Sat is supposed to be perfectly clear, I've seen 22 kWh on a clear day in the last couple of weeks so I think we might be celebrating a megawatt Saturday!  I'll post again when we do!

So Close!

We're getting so close to our Megawatt of solar power!!!  As of 3:30 PM today (2/3/13) we're sitting at 914 kWh since the system was turned on, we're making close to 20 kWh per day on sunny days, so it might be this week!  Excited!

Half way there!

We finished out 2012 by reaching our half way mark on our goal of a producing a megawatt of power, by the end of the day 12/31/12 we had made just over 500 kWh!  At this rate if we get some sunny days we might hit one megawatt by February, yeah!

Megawatt?

With the solar PV running we wondered how long it would be before we would make a MegaWh of power, we're 30% of the way there!  We're about 300 kWh as of today, I'm guessing sometime 1st quarter next year, just depends on how many sunny days we get.

Green List

We've been asked many times about what we did that's "Green" with the house build....we usually just ramble off some things about the insulation and solar and stuff.....I decided to try and come up with a list of "Green" things, what we consider to be "Green" goes beyond that of just saving energy or money, we also think of things  that are healthy for us, so here's my list in no particular order.  Maybe I can reference it next time someone asks so that I don't just ramble about random "green" things.

• Low E Argon Gas filled Energy Efficient Windows
• Caulk and Foam Seal all studs and joists
• R19 Natural Fiber wall insulation
• R38 Attic Insulation
• 2x6 outer walls
• Bora-Care Green Termite treatment
• Zip System wall boards & sealing system
• Radiant Barrier under Roof
• Insulated Garage Walls and Doors
• Low and No VOC paints, stains, caulks, etc.
• 15 Seer Energy Efficient Heat Pump/AC units
• Fresh Air Exchange System
• Humidity Controlling programmable Thermostats
• Energy Star Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher
• Induction Cook-top (90% efficient verses 65% for regular electric range)
• Velux Thermal Solar Water Heating System
• 6.2 kW 24 panel LG Photovoltaic Solar System
• Carpet, I can't remember what was "green" about it
• Radon release system from basement
• Carbon dioxide detectors
• Low Flow Shower and Faucet Heads
• Dual Flush Toilets
• 96% non-incandescent lights, mostly CFLs, some LED lights placed in strategic locations, maybe I should change out those 5 incandescent lights in the attic space to make it 100%
• Energy Star Ceiling Fans
• Drought Tolerant Warm Season Grass (no irrigation)
• Timers on all Bathroom exhaust fans
• Sealed and Conditioned Basement (eventually to be finished)
• Whole House Water Filtration System (no salt or chemicals)
• Smart Electric Power Strips for TV Systems
• Engineered Deck Boards

I'll update this post periodically as I'm sure I missed something or got something wrong.  If you notice anything I missed feel free to e-mail me.

Making some Power!

We are making power!  Progress Energy installed the net meter this past week and Southern Energy did the final check and turned on the breakers Friday afternoon.
Today (Saturday) I checked around noon and we were making 4.45 kW with a total of 12.5 kWh produced so far today!  So excited!  All 24 panels are showing online.

If the car wasn't charging right now I'd go take a picture of the meter feeding power to the grid...but right now the car charging is sucking up all our power generated, which that's ok because that's kind of like making your own gas for a combustion engine car  ;-)

Updated Time Lapse

I updated the "time lapse" slide show.  I think it's neat seeing it all come together in just a little more than 1 minute!

Southern Energy

Southern Energy used our great photo op the other day on their website.
They also performed our energy audit and said its a 13 on the HERS scale!
I wasn't 100% sure what that meant, but here's the scale from Wikipedia with our 13 on it, apparently that's really really good!

PV and EV, great combination!

When Southern Energy came out to take a reading of the solar panels we thought this might make for a great photo op of the PV panels, Thermal panels, two Chevrolet Volts plugged in, and their Southern Energy Prius.

PV panels are installed!

PV panels are installed!  Next steps are electrical inspection next week, then get a new meter from Progress Energy, then an orientation from Southern Energy and "flip the switch" to on and then "Swayney Energy" will be making some power! So excited!

PV Panels!!!

They finished the install of the PV panels, we're just a couple of steps away from making some power!

PV is scheduled!!!

Just wanted to post that we're scheduled for the PV solar system to be installed on Friday!  Lets make some power!

Move in Day!!!

It's move in Day!

So much going on!

It's been a long time since I've posted anything about the house, but we are down to 2 weeks away from hopefully moving in and there is so much going on at the house!  The first coat has gone on the hardwoods, tile work is done, cabinet hardware is on, appliances are in, carpet is in, painting is done and lighting fixtures are up among other things!

Let's start in the kitchen - probably my favorite room in the house!

This view is looking at the kitchen and family room from the dining room.  I love the huge island - it's going to provide so much storage, plus we have an overhang on the other side for bar stools so I think this kitchen will definitely be the heart of our home.  The island is a dark espresso stain with Venetian Ice granite which has ivory and different shades of brown in it as well as some black.

This is the sink area.  Dishwasher is in as well as all the faucets and the backsplash.  We went with a solid black granite on these counters with stainless steel faucets and appliances.  I also love the cabinet hardware we picked out.    

The cooktop area!  You can barely tell that the cooktop is there from this picture.  Love the subway tile backsplash and the pot filler faucet over the cooktop.  I also love the vent hood and the in wall oven and microwave oven.  

The kitchen opens to the family room (the entire downstairs is very open, except for the office and guest bath).  Love the built in's by the fireplace (I finally have a nice place to store all the scrapbooks I make).  The stone around the fireplace matches the stone around the front door.  You can also see the stain color for the floors - I think it is Minwax's Jacobean.

This picture turned out really yellow for some reason.  This is the guest bathroom.  I wanted a vessel sink this time and we found this copper vessel sink at Lowe's.  The paint in here is actually the same as the family room even though it looks yellow ;-)

Outside the guest bath is our "drop zone" where we will put shoes and bags when we come in from the garage.  It still needs some hooks...

This room off the family room will be our office.  It could also be a first floor bedroom if we ever needed it to be.

Before we go upstairs, here is the front door all stained the same color as the floors.

Lighting is up on the outside of the house.  Can't wait to get some comfy chairs for relaxing on the front porch!

Carpet is in!  And the handrails and ballusters are up.  The carpet is called Dessert Sand I think - it's a light creamy tan color.

Top of the stairs looking toward the front door.  Love the foyer light - found it on Amazon!

Sara's room!  She wanted a purple room, so we did lavender.  She picked out her ceiling fan at Lowe's.

The Buddy Bath (or Sara's Bath).  We did nickel faucets and lighting in here.  Mirrors came from Lowes - I was amazed that the color actually matched the cabinets since they are more off white.  Lights came from Lowe's (again).

Master Bathroom Vanities!  Love the mirrors (from Lowe's) and lights (also from Lowe's).  The walls in here are yellow - Sherwin Williams color White Raisin.

 

Master Bedroom - Paint color is Sherwin Williams Anjou Pear.  It's a goldish yellow color.

Bookcases in the hallway upstairs, right outside the master bedroom.

Bedroom #3 - this will likely be Sara's playroom until we can finish the basement.

This picture isn't that great, but this is the laundry room.

So, that's the tour for now!  I will post more pictures as things finish up.  We are hoping to have landscaping late this week and we are supposed to have the keys on the 14th so we can start moving boxes!  We cannot wait to get in the house and enjoy our nice wooded lot.

Now, I need to get packing!!  

Dawn

Inside taking shape

Been a while since posting, stuff on the inside are taking shape.

Sara's new stage is in place, and that's one full slab of granite, really awesome watching the 4 guys bring it in, that was one super heavy slab!

 Vanity in the Guest room

Master Bath

 Family Room

Cabinets and Exterior Paint!

We stopped by the house yesterday and the painter was still there working.  He's almost got all the exterior paint complete!  The house is looking great!

I absolutely love the ceilings on the porches.

We also had another surprise when we stopped by - most of the cabinets are here and were being installed!  Here are some pictures of the cabinets.

They had started installing the built-ins near the fireplace.

The refridgerator will go here.... 

 Here is where the built-in oven and microwave will go...

 Sara was so excited her desk was beginning to take shape!!

Book case in the upstairs hall had been installed.

 

 Sara had to take a picture of me near her desk...

More pictures to come!  It seems like things are changing at the house everyday!  Cannot wait to see the island and master bath cabinets installed.