Friday, April 23, 2010
keeping watch
This beautiful predator circles over our building site nearly every day. Someday I'll have a better zoom and can show you its markings up close.
231!
That's the number of kWh of electricity our photovoltaic system has produced so far! It feels so good to be making and using our own clean power to build this house!
I posted about putting the racks up here.
Once a good weather day came to install the panels, we prepped by caulking and reinforcing the screw schedule for the roof shingles. The galvanized steel we used was not ideal and needed a little extra help to keep it water tight.
Next, we prepped all the penetrations in the roof. In our case, we are planning to add solar thermal panels that will use the waste heat behind our PV panels to heat water, so we needed to add plumbing and electrical penetrations.
We started with these rubber boots that are made of a material that can withstand high temperatures and are also watertight.
Next, the copper plumbing and electrical went through the boots and into the inside.
This involved some awkward positions.
And a supervisor enjoying the view of the aspen grove from the 4th level scaffolding (note the harness and rope to still this Mama Builder's beating heart).
Next solar wires were pulled through the electrical penetrations.
A grounding wire was secured.
And then we got to these.
(As with so much of this project, the solar thermal panels that will be installed behind the PV panels are going to be highly engineered, custom fabrications for which we had to purchase innumerable custom materials. It was looking like I was going to be hosting a testosterone-rich aluminum welding party complete with buffalo wings and beer for the several males who were vying to do the job. I'll certainly keep you posted if that happens. The solar thermal panels will be completed and installed within the next month or so.)
The panels were lifted through the windows and passed up the scaffolding.
Then they were carefully moved into place.
Wired together.
And secured in place.
The weather at the end of this day changed from blue to very cold and foreboding so we called it a day and covered the 3 panels we got into place before the weather chased us off.
We came back later and installed the rest of the panels. Here they are with a lovely ice sculpture hanging from them.
Then we connected everything up to the inverter in our basement, which efficiently converts the DC electricity coming from our panels to AC electricity that can be used by our appliances.
We then connected our system to a special meter provided by the power company which helps them determine how much total electricity we make. Our regular meter is a "Net Meter", meaning that it keeps track of the amount of power we produce MINUS the amount of power we buy from the power company. We're hoping that the power company will be sending us checks more often than we're sending them checks!
Here's the box we installed for the production meter.
Now we just admire our pretty panels and the read-out on the inverter showing the amount of power they produce!
P.S. You are all invited to our Megawatt party to celebrate our system producing a Megawatt-hour of electricity. Based on our anticipated production rates, it will probably be sometime in the latter part of June!
I posted about putting the racks up here.
Once a good weather day came to install the panels, we prepped by caulking and reinforcing the screw schedule for the roof shingles. The galvanized steel we used was not ideal and needed a little extra help to keep it water tight.
Next, we prepped all the penetrations in the roof. In our case, we are planning to add solar thermal panels that will use the waste heat behind our PV panels to heat water, so we needed to add plumbing and electrical penetrations.
We started with these rubber boots that are made of a material that can withstand high temperatures and are also watertight.
Next, the copper plumbing and electrical went through the boots and into the inside.
This involved some awkward positions.
And a supervisor enjoying the view of the aspen grove from the 4th level scaffolding (note the harness and rope to still this Mama Builder's beating heart).
Next solar wires were pulled through the electrical penetrations.
A grounding wire was secured.
And then we got to these.
(As with so much of this project, the solar thermal panels that will be installed behind the PV panels are going to be highly engineered, custom fabrications for which we had to purchase innumerable custom materials. It was looking like I was going to be hosting a testosterone-rich aluminum welding party complete with buffalo wings and beer for the several males who were vying to do the job. I'll certainly keep you posted if that happens. The solar thermal panels will be completed and installed within the next month or so.)
The panels were lifted through the windows and passed up the scaffolding.
Then they were carefully moved into place.
Wired together.
And secured in place.
The weather at the end of this day changed from blue to very cold and foreboding so we called it a day and covered the 3 panels we got into place before the weather chased us off.
We came back later and installed the rest of the panels. Here they are with a lovely ice sculpture hanging from them.
Then we connected everything up to the inverter in our basement, which efficiently converts the DC electricity coming from our panels to AC electricity that can be used by our appliances.
(does this look familiar, K&E?)
We then connected our system to a special meter provided by the power company which helps them determine how much total electricity we make. Our regular meter is a "Net Meter", meaning that it keeps track of the amount of power we produce MINUS the amount of power we buy from the power company. We're hoping that the power company will be sending us checks more often than we're sending them checks!
Here's the box we installed for the production meter.
Now we just admire our pretty panels and the read-out on the inverter showing the amount of power they produce!
P.S. You are all invited to our Megawatt party to celebrate our system producing a Megawatt-hour of electricity. Based on our anticipated production rates, it will probably be sometime in the latter part of June!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
easter weekend
Tonight, this is what is out the window.
Can you see my car under there? Me either.
The weather didn't stop a little holiday fun, though.
Holidays with Eden are so fun. Papa Builder and I are kind of terrible at holidays. We rarely plan in advance, we almost never buy presents, we don't decorate. We usually get the food right, but that's about it. Eden, however, is a natural-born holiday party planner. Decorations, entertainment, guests, food, and of course the holiday spirit.
Eden pulled together props from his morning egg hunt at the ski resort, a lovely box of holiday surprises sent from grandparents, and random stuff from the house and made a fun party, complete with sporting egg hunts, treats, and darling springtime decorations.
Now, if the snow would only stop, maybe we'll fully get into the holiday spirit and move on to Spring.
Can you see my car under there? Me either.
The weather didn't stop a little holiday fun, though.
Easter egg hunting on skis.
Decorating eggs.
Eden pulled together props from his morning egg hunt at the ski resort, a lovely box of holiday surprises sent from grandparents, and random stuff from the house and made a fun party, complete with sporting egg hunts, treats, and darling springtime decorations.
Now, if the snow would only stop, maybe we'll fully get into the holiday spirit and move on to Spring.
Friday, March 26, 2010
working from home
Papa Builder and I have owned our own business in one form or another since we started our life together in 1997. The current form of our business has been taking shape since 2002 after we returned from a year-long stint in China.
You'll note that the Boy Builder was born in 2003 and thus has been living in the throes of self-employment since his first day on the planet.
Sometimes, this living and working and playing and learning and growing at home is a challenge. Sometimes it's such a challenge that I throw up my hands, tear out my hair, and cry tears of frustration. But, truth be told, this is how humans have done things from the beginning. We have always worked and played and grown all at once, in the same place. And children have always, until very recently, been right there in the midst of things, learning the trade and talents of their parents and developing their own along the way.
And when I can have the perspective (and am willing to accept the influence of my sweet, smart husband), I can see what a really amazing thing it is for Eden to grow up with us, in all our chaos and craziness.
When we have conversations about problems we're trying to solve with work, Eden has always been right there and now that he's 6, he jumps right in with creative solutions. For example, here's a sketch of the outside of a theoretical showroom Heliocentric might one day have:
Eden's also the only kid I know who understands how solar power systems are put together, has opinions about brands of glycol, and knows how to use a refractometer. (Go ahead, look it up; I didn't know what one was until a few months ago myself.)
Working from home is on my mind because I've been doing a lot of it lately. Heliocentric has been short-handed and Mama Builder has had to hang up her coveralls on some days and sit at the computer and on the phone and in meetings with clients. It is reassuring to know that even on those days when it's the hardest to juggle all my many responsibilities that the Boy Builder is making out OK. Because, really, that's what it's all about.
Signed,
The Sometimes Reluctant Business Maker
P.S. It's been snowing for 2 days and the Boy Builder insisted I leave the computer glow and head outside for some adventure this afternoon. We saw, buried under the layers of old snow and new snow green leaves! It felt like a magic leprechaun inspired treasure hunt! We were also scolded thoroughly by a blue jay for coming too close to its nest and found numerous magical tree shelters hidden behind curtains of "tree thicket", as Eden called it (can you tell we listen to lots of British children's literature?). There are some tangible advantages of working with a 6 year old. :)
You'll note that the Boy Builder was born in 2003 and thus has been living in the throes of self-employment since his first day on the planet.
Sometimes, this living and working and playing and learning and growing at home is a challenge. Sometimes it's such a challenge that I throw up my hands, tear out my hair, and cry tears of frustration. But, truth be told, this is how humans have done things from the beginning. We have always worked and played and grown all at once, in the same place. And children have always, until very recently, been right there in the midst of things, learning the trade and talents of their parents and developing their own along the way.
And when I can have the perspective (and am willing to accept the influence of my sweet, smart husband), I can see what a really amazing thing it is for Eden to grow up with us, in all our chaos and craziness.
When we have conversations about problems we're trying to solve with work, Eden has always been right there and now that he's 6, he jumps right in with creative solutions. For example, here's a sketch of the outside of a theoretical showroom Heliocentric might one day have:
Eden's also the only kid I know who understands how solar power systems are put together, has opinions about brands of glycol, and knows how to use a refractometer. (Go ahead, look it up; I didn't know what one was until a few months ago myself.)
Working from home is on my mind because I've been doing a lot of it lately. Heliocentric has been short-handed and Mama Builder has had to hang up her coveralls on some days and sit at the computer and on the phone and in meetings with clients. It is reassuring to know that even on those days when it's the hardest to juggle all my many responsibilities that the Boy Builder is making out OK. Because, really, that's what it's all about.
Signed,
The Sometimes Reluctant Business Maker
P.S. It's been snowing for 2 days and the Boy Builder insisted I leave the computer glow and head outside for some adventure this afternoon. We saw, buried under the layers of old snow and new snow green leaves! It felt like a magic leprechaun inspired treasure hunt! We were also scolded thoroughly by a blue jay for coming too close to its nest and found numerous magical tree shelters hidden behind curtains of "tree thicket", as Eden called it (can you tell we listen to lots of British children's literature?). There are some tangible advantages of working with a 6 year old. :)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
spring
It's blowing snow outside this afternoon. This morning it was sunshine. This afternoon the temperature plummeted 20 degrees. Yesterday it was 50+ degrees.
Sure signs of spring.
Spring in the mountains is different from spring in the city. The signs are fleeting and transient. And covered in snow.
The other day we were down in the city and saw crocuses blooming. I came rushing up the canyon pointing my camera in every direction to capture signs of spring in our neighborhood. Here's what I found first:
This discouraged me for a few days and I put the camera away. On a sunny day, I found these signs in the snow pack.
The rippling on the surface of the snow is a sure sign of rising and inconsistent air temperatures and more hours of sunshine.
The forest critters are feeling the longer days and rising temperatures and beginning the frantic search for food that lasts all summer long.
But, really visual signs of spring are nearly impossible to capture. Spring arrives by hearsay more than the splendid ostentatious visual display I grew accustomed to in my youth in North Carolina.
When I walk into the building site now, I hear more birds. If I look carefully I can see some of them flitting about, pairing up for the mating season. James said he heard geese flying overhead as he came in the other evening, heading north for the summer. A neighbor said she saw a robin in a side canyon the other day. The mice have started to find their way into our house (ack!), arising from a winter of relative lethargy to look for food and warmth. We are shedding layers of clothing on occasion, soaking up the warm sun on our skin. And staying out later in the evenings with the change to daylight savings time.
But, the other day I did finally find one sign of spring that was willing to be captured on CCR. Can you make out the buds on those aspens?
Spring really is here, just wearing a different outfit than she does in other places.
Sure signs of spring.
Spring in the mountains is different from spring in the city. The signs are fleeting and transient. And covered in snow.
The other day we were down in the city and saw crocuses blooming. I came rushing up the canyon pointing my camera in every direction to capture signs of spring in our neighborhood. Here's what I found first:
This discouraged me for a few days and I put the camera away. On a sunny day, I found these signs in the snow pack.
The rippling on the surface of the snow is a sure sign of rising and inconsistent air temperatures and more hours of sunshine.
But, really visual signs of spring are nearly impossible to capture. Spring arrives by hearsay more than the splendid ostentatious visual display I grew accustomed to in my youth in North Carolina.
When I walk into the building site now, I hear more birds. If I look carefully I can see some of them flitting about, pairing up for the mating season. James said he heard geese flying overhead as he came in the other evening, heading north for the summer. A neighbor said she saw a robin in a side canyon the other day. The mice have started to find their way into our house (ack!), arising from a winter of relative lethargy to look for food and warmth. We are shedding layers of clothing on occasion, soaking up the warm sun on our skin. And staying out later in the evenings with the change to daylight savings time.
But, the other day I did finally find one sign of spring that was willing to be captured on CCR. Can you make out the buds on those aspens?
Spring really is here, just wearing a different outfit than she does in other places.
Monday, March 15, 2010
the new neighborhood
Some of you have perhaps heard of some of the... shall we call it, quirkiness?... of some of our new neighbors. There have been moments when, admittedly, this reluctant homemaker has been reduced to tears and dreams of running far, far away from the nuttiness of living in the mountains by some of our more colorful neighbors.
Today was a refreshing reminder of the beautiful community I'm a part of here on our mountain. A neighbor held a baby shower for a soon to be mama due in a couple of weeks who lives just round the bend from my new house. There were no less than 8 lovely women from our neighborhood (among others) who gathered to wish this new mama well. We shared delicious food, fun companionship, and the sweet antics of the other wee ones in the neighborhood. Life is good!
Oh, and the party was inspiration for knitting project! I haven't knitted in ages and was thrilled for the opportunity. Here's the final product modeled by a coconut:
Eden helped me pick out the yarn and design the hat. I'm not a practiced knit pattern writer, but here's a stab at what I did to make this hat. Enjoy!
Newborn stripey top knot beanie
by Travis Harvey
Yarn: Cascade Fixation 1430 (Butter yellow), 3628 (Ripe strawberry red), 4448 (Melon orange), and 5184 (Spring green) — I made up the color names, as Cascade only identifies the colors by number.
Needles: Size 5, circular and double pointed needles, or whatever size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 6 sts per inch, and 9 rows per inch
Size of hat: approximately 13-3/4" circumference to fit a newborn baby. The yarn is stretchy and soft and just perfect for little yummy newborn heads.
The Pattern
Cast on 80 stitches to circular needles. Join for working in the round.
Rows 1-3: *(K1, p1) in Butter yellow to end of row.
Row 4: K whole row in Ripe strawberry red.
Rows 5-7: K whole rows in Melon orange.
Rows 8-10: K whole rows in Spring green.
Rows 11-14: K whole rows in Butter yellow.
Repeat color pattern in rows 4-14 until piece measures 4 inches tall from brim.
Begin the decreases, continuing to follow established color pattern (except as noted below), and switching to double pointed needles as required.
Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the first row of decreases if you like, to help with counting.
(K8, ktog), repeat to end of round — 72 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K7, ktog), repeat to end of round — 64 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K6, ktog), repeat to end of round — 56 stitches remaining.
Today was a refreshing reminder of the beautiful community I'm a part of here on our mountain. A neighbor held a baby shower for a soon to be mama due in a couple of weeks who lives just round the bend from my new house. There were no less than 8 lovely women from our neighborhood (among others) who gathered to wish this new mama well. We shared delicious food, fun companionship, and the sweet antics of the other wee ones in the neighborhood. Life is good!
Oh, and the party was inspiration for knitting project! I haven't knitted in ages and was thrilled for the opportunity. Here's the final product modeled by a coconut:
Eden helped me pick out the yarn and design the hat. I'm not a practiced knit pattern writer, but here's a stab at what I did to make this hat. Enjoy!
Newborn stripey top knot beanie
by Travis Harvey
Yarn: Cascade Fixation 1430 (Butter yellow), 3628 (Ripe strawberry red), 4448 (Melon orange), and 5184 (Spring green) — I made up the color names, as Cascade only identifies the colors by number.
Needles: Size 5, circular and double pointed needles, or whatever size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 6 sts per inch, and 9 rows per inch
Size of hat: approximately 13-3/4" circumference to fit a newborn baby. The yarn is stretchy and soft and just perfect for little yummy newborn heads.
The Pattern
Cast on 80 stitches to circular needles. Join for working in the round.
Rows 1-3: *(K1, p1) in Butter yellow to end of row.
Row 4: K whole row in Ripe strawberry red.
Rows 5-7: K whole rows in Melon orange.
Rows 8-10: K whole rows in Spring green.
Rows 11-14: K whole rows in Butter yellow.
Repeat color pattern in rows 4-14 until piece measures 4 inches tall from brim.
Begin the decreases, continuing to follow established color pattern (except as noted below), and switching to double pointed needles as required.
Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the first row of decreases if you like, to help with counting.
(K8, ktog), repeat to end of round — 72 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K7, ktog), repeat to end of round — 64 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K6, ktog), repeat to end of round — 56 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K5, ktog), repeat to end of round — 48 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K4, ktog), repeat to end of round — 40 stitches remaining.
(About here, I was finishing a green section and I switched the pattern to run backwards. After the green, I did 3 rows of orange, 1 row of red, and then finished the crown off in yellow, so the top knot was yellow.)
K round.
(K3, ktog), repeat to end of round — 32 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K2, ktog), repeat to end of round — 24 stitches remaining.
K round.
(K1, ktog), repeat to end of round — 16 stitches remaining.
K round.
K round.
K round.
K round.
(ktog), repeat to end of round — 8 stitches remaining.
K round.
K round.
(ktog), placing all stitches on 1 double pointed needle — 4 stitches remaining.
K I-cord with remaining 4 stitches for 3 inches.
Tie off, cut ends, and weave in all ends.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
time out for civic activism
Today, Eden and I took a little field trip to the Utah State Capitol.
Utah has a part-time legislature that is in session for 6 weeks every year beginning in mid-January and running through mid-March. It's a hectic time where all the bills for the whole year are debated and passed in one frantic, harried gauntlet. During the session, I send lots of emails to Utah representatives and senators, weighing in on the issues and bills important to us. I also try to take Eden up at least once during the session to get a glimpse of the democratic process in action.
Today, we volunteered to represent an issue close to our hearts (and lungs!) — Clean Air! Utah has a long-standing air pollution problem and I've been involved in one way or another with the cause for several years now. Here's a picture from January 2008 of Eden (4) and I boarding the bus to go testify against a new Nevada coal plant that would have affected Utah's air quality. We're holding posters we helped organize a bunch of local moms and kids to make so we could bring them to the hearing.
Here's our table at the Capitol today with one of the cause's #1 activists.
Eden thought the table needed just a little more targeted take on his position regarding clean air, so he worked for a while...
...And drew this poster to add to our display:
There's a lot going on in Eden's poster. The top half is dominated by a large coal plant sending lots of smog into the air. The coal plant is covered in Xs and there's a NO! Burning Coal admonition written below. To the right there are cars and trucks with Xs through them as well. On the left is a person walking and a person biking with checkmarks ticked on top. The bottom half of the poster is the "solution" part of the poster. It's a house with solar panels on top, powering some hanging lights and a computer for a person sitting up in the attic.
Eden was disappointed that more people didn't come to talk with us. He's really a skilled a charming advocate for causes he feels strongly about.
For me, community building and civic action are so closely related to shelter-building, sustainability, responsibility, and so many other values and projects I talk about here. Although this day was a bit different in character (and wardrobe!) from our typical days, it's all of a piece serving a greater whole.
I'd love to hear how you are participating in the democratic process or advocating for an issue you care about in your corner of the world. Please post in the comments!
[his hair really was combed when we left the house]
Utah has a part-time legislature that is in session for 6 weeks every year beginning in mid-January and running through mid-March. It's a hectic time where all the bills for the whole year are debated and passed in one frantic, harried gauntlet. During the session, I send lots of emails to Utah representatives and senators, weighing in on the issues and bills important to us. I also try to take Eden up at least once during the session to get a glimpse of the democratic process in action.
Today, we volunteered to represent an issue close to our hearts (and lungs!) — Clean Air! Utah has a long-standing air pollution problem and I've been involved in one way or another with the cause for several years now. Here's a picture from January 2008 of Eden (4) and I boarding the bus to go testify against a new Nevada coal plant that would have affected Utah's air quality. We're holding posters we helped organize a bunch of local moms and kids to make so we could bring them to the hearing.
[Photo credit goes to Jim Westwater]
Here's our table at the Capitol today with one of the cause's #1 activists.
Eden thought the table needed just a little more targeted take on his position regarding clean air, so he worked for a while...
...And drew this poster to add to our display:
Eden was disappointed that more people didn't come to talk with us. He's really a skilled a charming advocate for causes he feels strongly about.
For me, community building and civic action are so closely related to shelter-building, sustainability, responsibility, and so many other values and projects I talk about here. Although this day was a bit different in character (and wardrobe!) from our typical days, it's all of a piece serving a greater whole.
I'd love to hear how you are participating in the democratic process or advocating for an issue you care about in your corner of the world. Please post in the comments!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
