Rooftop optimization
My growing interest in alternative power sources lead me into some twisty passages. No nuclear, here. Rather, I’m going to do an age test. Do you remember pinball machines?
One song that comes to mind, for folks of my vintage, is a ditty from Tommy. Yes, the one about a “deaf, dumb blind kid”. He had some compromises, getting through the day. Since I tend to appropriate such things (am I really a narcissist?), I decided to see if alternative energy sources would be affected if I became a pinball player. Not really, but allow me to wander aimlessly.
Let’s see. I can probably use the blind identifier. I don’t talk, much, so the dumb part is out there. How about deaf? Other than selective deafness, not really. And here’s how it applies to me and the power grid.
I can hear the wind turbines, over yonder. Not all the time, but late at night when the dog drags me to the door. So, when I came across information on micro-turbines (the one that you could place on your roof), I was forced to watch. The machines are not silent. Rated at about 50dB, I would notice the house (vibrating). Enough to keep me from ordering an evaluation unit on eBay.
Turns out, for this part of the world (and our local turbine farm bedamned), solar panels might be enough to get me through the dark of night. With smallish night lights. Safer than tea-candles. My question about pinball machines? A red herring. Don’t own one. Don’t want one. Too noisy.
