matt's blog

TED: An Indoor Electricity Meter

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:18:48 -0500

Sarah didn’t like TED when he first came to live with us. I think she found him to be a bit of a nag. However, yesterday TED left for an extended vacation at a friend’s home and Sarah, only hours after his departure, stated, “I miss TED”. I do too.

Read the full article and learn more about TED at Green Collar Living in the Mountain State

The SREC: Revenue from Renewables

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:25:22 -0500

That Miracle of Geography

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:41:49 -0500

6X$$

...This year I missed the morning session, but I did have the pleasure of listening to Erik Duncan from Invenergy LLC whose talk was entitled “The Cost of Developing and Constructing Wind Farms.” Invenergy works all over the U.S. developing wind farms. In WV they are most famous for the Beech Ridge farm that is under development in Greenbrier County and which has struggled due to a lot of opposition. What I found most striking about the talk was the fact that it costs six times as much to develop a wind farm in the Appalachians as it does to develop one in the Midwest....

Windy Days for Wind Turbines in WV

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:39:22 -0400

With the arrival of the cold front yesterday we have emerged from late summer doldrums and officially entered the windy season.

See the video and read the full article at Green Collar Living in the Mountain State

Green Collar Living in the Mountain State

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:09:10 -0400

The blog is moving on to Green Collar Living in the Mountain State. I'll be creating a new section here at www.getpimby.com to highlight completed projects. I'll leave up the original blog/projects for the time being so that folks can take a look at some of the past projects.

Renewable Energy at the Kanawha Valley Sustainability Fair

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:26:31 -0400

Solar Power for Riverwalk in Davis, WV

Mon, 18 May 2009 21:41:05 -0400

West Virginia Solar Tax Credit

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:34:51 -0400

Calories and Kilowatts

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:55:43 -0500

The WVU Agricultural Extension Service hosted an absolutely outstanding cast of alternative energy speakers at this year’s West Virginia Small Farms Conference. This event may be the premier renewable energy conference in the Mountain State.

30% Off All Wind Installations

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:20:32 -0500

Wow! The stimulus just keeps coming.......

The latest stimulus hoopla is that wind turbines are now eligible for a full 30% federal tax credit. Previously the credit was capped, but the cap has been lifted. As with solar (PV) the tax credit is taken against the full installed cost of the system.

30% Off All Solar Installations

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:18:03 -0500

West Virginia Solar: Debunking the myth that solar doesn’t work in the Mountain State

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:23:41 -0400

Emerging from the short days and snowy depths of a West Virginia winter leads some to wonder if solar energy can really work in West Virginia. This leaves environmentally conscientious citizens wondering what type of solar energy solutions exist in a state whose weather approximates more that of Oregon than Arizona.

Generate Some Positive Energy - Decrease Utility Dependence

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:10:30 -0500

Guest Entry - Sarah (PIMBY Intern)

I’m not sure how many readers of the PIMBY blog know the women’s sports catalog, Title 9… the catalog goes something like this: incredibly fit and beautiful women model cute sports clothes. In addition, there is a brief description of each athlete-model’s profession, favorite book, most recent adventure – things like “I’m a neurosurgeon who does aid work in Sudan and has qualified for the Olympics in the mile and long jump.”

Hapa Lani Wind and Sun Off-grid

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:53:43 -0500

This project involved the installation of an off-grid electric system for a new home in Preston County, WV. The site is well suited to both wind power and solar (photovoltaic) power. Using a hybrid wind and solar approach balances the generation of renewable electricity across the seasons and it minimizes the size of the battery bank that is required for storage.

PIMBY at the 2007 Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C.

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:13:32 -0400

PIMBY was down on the National Mall last week working on the installation of an exhibit that the DOE uses to demonstrate efficient home building practices and grid-tied PV systems. The exhibit is part of the 2007 Solar Decathlon which opens today with a ceremony at 10AM. Teams from 20 universities have been on the Mall in Washington D.C. for more than a week assembling their homes. Each home is judged on a set of criteria that focuses on asthetics and energy efficiency. Solar electric (PV) and solar hot water are mainstays of all the houses.