I still am not sure which is more economical/cheaper to use - gas or electric.  Anyone figure this one out yet?

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jd4fox23

Doesn't matter. They both affect each other in price.

jd4fox23:

I still am not sure which is more economical/cheaper to use - gas or electric.  Anyone figure this one out yet?

jd4fox23, I would say electric, as long as you go completely SOLAR, that is what my son-inlaw intends to do. He is fed up with the high electric and gas bills, then on top of it, the electric is going up $17.50 each month to help with the gas.(heating gas or vehicle gas?), it doesn't matter, since the costs of living way exceed our incomes, as it is. Heating with gas is higher in the winter, as is electric is out of hand in the summer, take your pick, but with the added $17.50 per month, seems like electric won't just be higher in the summer, it is starting to become, year around. (cricket)

cricket:

jd4fox23:

I still am not sure which is more economical/cheaper to use - gas or electric.  Anyone figure this one out yet?

jd4fox23, I would say electric, as long as you go completely SOLAR, that is what my son-inlaw intends to do. He is fed up with the high electric and gas bills, then on top of it, the electric is going up $17.50 each month to help with the gas.(heating gas or vehicle gas?), it doesn't matter, since the costs of living way exceed our incomes, as it is. Heating with gas is higher in the winter, as is electric is out of hand in the summer, take your pick, but with the added $17.50 per month, seems like electric won't just be higher in the summer, it is starting to become, year around. (cricket)

We (our family) has been making plans on ways to go green and more energy efficient.  We'd like to install windmills and some solar panels and are looking into installing a backup generator that will run on either natural gas or propane that will automatically kick in when the power goes out and will run the entire house.  Right now we are going to install a small version of a windmill that we can test run outdoor lights on to see how much energy we can actually generate.  :)

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jd4fox23

They are talking about the cost of natural gas. It is used to generate electricity as is coal and other natural resources.

jd4fox23:

cricket:

jd4fox23:

I still am not sure which is more economical/cheaper to use - gas or electric.  Anyone figure this one out yet?

jd4fox23, I would say electric, as long as you go completely SOLAR, that is what my son-inlaw intends to do. He is fed up with the high electric and gas bills, then on top of it, the electric is going up $17.50 each month to help with the gas.(heating gas or vehicle gas?), it doesn't matter, since the costs of living way exceed our incomes, as it is. Heating with gas is higher in the winter, as is electric is out of hand in the summer, take your pick, but with the added $17.50 per month, seems like electric won't just be higher in the summer, it is starting to become, year around. (cricket)

We (our family) has been making plans on ways to go green and more energy efficient.  We'd like to install windmills and some solar panels and are looking into installing a backup generator that will run on either natural gas or propane that will automatically kick in when the power goes out and will run the entire house.  Right now we are going to install a small version of a windmill that we can test run outdoor lights on to see how much energy we can actually generate.  :)

Your plans really sound good. Keep us informed on how well it does, ok? (cricket)

jd4fox23:

  We'd like to install windmills and some solar panels and are looking into installing a backup generator that will run on either natural gas or propane that will automatically kick in when the power goes out and will run the entire house.  Right now we are going to install a small version of a windmill that we can test run outdoor lights on to see how much energy we can actually generate.  :)

Please keep us updated on this, I really like the windmill thing. I know that you can sell your unused power from them back to the power company.

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http://sportstoday.proboards58.com

I almost have my "Mini Solar powered" generator built (again), I'll send pics when it's done. I am trying to find a better inverter box first as my last one went PFFFFFFFFFT. Not to mention I accidentally bought a 12 volt quick start battery which is a no no. When it's running, it will run my computer and 100watt Flourescent light constantly.

If you want solar power go to an RV store, or if you guys have junk shops down here with old RV's, yank there solar panels. You can make solar powered generators real cheap.

Since I am in an Apartment, I have no way to mess with windmills.

Also, My works will just not power a whole house, but in an emergancy, I am all set.

Marlin:

jd4fox23:

  We'd like to install windmills and some solar panels and are looking into installing a backup generator that will run on either natural gas or propane that will automatically kick in when the power goes out and will run the entire house.  Right now we are going to install a small version of a windmill that we can test run outdoor lights on to see how much energy we can actually generate.  :)

Please keep us updated on this, I really like the windmill thing. I know that you can sell your unused power from them back to the power company.

I like the part where, the electric company can purchase your unused power. then they can finally pay use something.. YES!! (cricket)

Marlin:

jd4fox23:

  We'd like to install windmills and some solar panels and are looking into installing a backup generator that will run on either natural gas or propane that will automatically kick in when the power goes out and will run the entire house.  Right now we are going to install a small version of a windmill that we can test run outdoor lights on to see how much energy we can actually generate.  :)

Please keep us updated on this, I really like the windmill thing. I know that you can sell your unused power from them back to the power company.

Will do .. right now we just have a battery and a small windmill to set up a mini version of wind powered outdoor lights, but in the Dec. ice storm the tree branches that broke from the ice fell on the windmill and broke a bracket on it, so gotta fix the bracket first before we'll be able to get the windmill back in working order.  It looks like it'll need to be welded so looking into that ...

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jd4fox23

RE: gas Vs. Electric...
Use the one best suited for the job (which is usually the one that doesnt have to be converted in your home).
Cooking, heating... burn gas.
Lighting,  appliances.... electricity.

Using electricity for heat isnt very efficient, nor is using gas for lighting, because of the energy thrown away in the conversion.
You could argue that natural gas motors are more efficient than electric ones, but electric motors are the ones being manufactured these days so we have to bend the rule for that one.

kindagreywolf:

I almost have my "Mini Solar powered" generator built (again), I'll send pics when it's done. I am trying to find a better inverter box first as my last one went PFFFFFFFFFT. Not to mention I accidentally bought a 12 volt quick start battery which is a no no. When it's running, it will run my computer and 100watt Flourescent light constantly.

If you want solar power go to an RV store, or if you guys have junk shops down here with old RV's, yank there solar panels. You can make solar powered generators real cheap.

Since I am in an Apartment, I have no way to mess with windmills.

Also, My works will just not power a whole house, but in an emergancy, I am all set.

Great, when you get that working you can send us all a step by step how to for those of us that may be able to follow directions but aren't mechanical.