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Post by Andorinha on Oct 30, 2020 10:55:51 GMT -6
Oooo, a little solar infusion seems to go a long way! With a sunny day you can get to 80 in winter, wow.
Hmmm, OK, will start stacking hobbits -- Tad is a bit thinner, so he can climb up on Holdo's shoulders to check top drawer for pickle-loaf, then we unstack and Tad (who has thicker woolen mittens), can check freezer compartment, and risk any finger-breakings if the "precious" ice cream goes missing...
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Post by fanuidhol on Oct 31, 2020 4:27:22 GMT -6
Decided to give the table of temps its own post. Hope it works. Date | Time | Inside | Outside | 10/30 | 6:00A | 64 | 28 | | 10:15A | 69 | 48 | | 12:00P | 73 | 55 | | 3:00P | 77 | 65 | | 7:45P | 72 | 52 | | 9:45P | 70 | 46 | 10/31 | 4:00A | 67 | 45 |
The sun warms the floor, then releases that warmth after the sun "leaves". We reduced the solar gain by adding the addition. So, the swings to the higher temperatures aren't as pronounced as they once were. In the winter, I wish we would get rid of the addition, but welcome it in the summer as it provides shade for our decks on either side depending on the time. The sun starts creeping into the house at the end of August. We go into our "cave" state at that point until sometime in late September. The curtains stay closed to reduce the temperature inside the house. We really need the afternoon shade that the addition brings in those months. However, the sun disappears from the house in late April. We tend to use the woodstove more in March/April than we do in December/January. The addition reduces what little solar gain we do get as the sun gets higher in the sky.
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Post by Stormrider on Oct 31, 2020 6:42:00 GMT -6
Looks warm and toasty enough inside. What about below zero weather or is that rare there?
Does the house stay cool in summer? I assume you do not have A/C. But perhaps fans?
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Post by fanuidhol on Oct 31, 2020 7:20:29 GMT -6
Below 0 is very rare. Once or twice? since we moved here. And not for the last 5 or so. When the sun is out, we do not need a fire. Extremely cold nights may see a fire in the woodstove, but generally, we wait for the heat (sun) to kick on in the morning. Tough sometimes for me since I get up so early. Yes, we have air conditioning. Three window units. The main one (8000BTU) is in the Living Room. An axillary one (5000BTU), which is rarely run, is near the School Room. One (5000BTU) in the addition bedroom for warm nights (other ones are turned off). In the Summer we do need to combat humidity, so often have a dehumidifier running and all rooms have ceiling fans except bath and utility rooms. We run the Air more in August/September than we do in Jun/July because of the sun/heat coming in the house, under and around the curtains.
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Post by Andorinha on Nov 1, 2020 9:36:40 GMT -6
Fan, you've got some range in daily temperatures, but the 6 AM reading, the lowest inside, is still quite nice. May need a sweater from time to time, but otherwise, your passive system looks very good.
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Post by fanuidhol on Nov 2, 2020 5:38:53 GMT -6
Here is this morning's temp reading. The time and date are messed up. Just noticed that after taking the picture. It was 5am on 11/2 when I took this. There were no clouds in the sky yesterday. It was breezy but the temperature was in the 60's.
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Post by Stormrider on Nov 2, 2020 7:17:12 GMT -6
That's nice and warm. The solar is working nicely for you. You said you have a grassy roof, right? I seem to remember you saying something about mowing it. Where are your solar panels located? EDIT: I went back and looked at your pictures. The first one of when you first bought it looks like grass on top!
Yesterday was cold up here, but very sunny.
We turn the heating blanket on (it's warm in bed) but turn off the heat in the rest of the camper at night. 36 degrees inside this morning. So I turned on the fireplace and space heater. Went to make coffee . . . But . . .
We have frozen water this morning! It came out for a bit then stopped. No coffee! Arrrg! The pool noodles didn't keep the hose warm enough to stop the freeze.
We do have the LP tanks (two 30 Lb-ers) but Mike tries not to use them. We do need to get one filled today.
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Post by fanuidhol on Nov 2, 2020 9:43:00 GMT -6
Yes, we used to mow the roof. But, now we have a conventional roof on it because it leaked. The "Attic" still contains soil over all except about 2 foot in from all the edges.
We have passive solar. We do not have solar panels actively collecting the sun's energy. The sun comes in through the 4 remaining 8ft wide sliding glass doors. It warms the air and the concrete floor. The concrete releases the heat once the sun stops heating it. Ever touch a tombstone, other concrete/brick surface, or large rock/boulder after the sun has been on it for a good portion of the day? They feel warm to the touch. I can feel the warmth of the floor in some sections, even after all night.
Oh no, frozen pipes! Hope everything is ok now.
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Post by Stormrider on Nov 2, 2020 11:56:33 GMT -6
No just the hose feeding our 5th wheel was frozen. It has warmed up now and water is flowing normlly.
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Post by fanuidhol on Nov 15, 2020 17:01:29 GMT -6
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Post by fanuidhol on Nov 15, 2020 17:51:47 GMT -6
This was my birthday present. I am very happy with the results. Stevie said that next year, I am getting Amazon gift cards.
We worked from 8:30am to 1pm with a break for lunch. Even though it looks like all I did was take pictures, I was right in there. I've got cuts and had splinters in my hands to prove it, since I don't know how to wear gloves.
in the last picture above, you can see in the background the makings for Brett's Birthday Bonfire that will happen at the end of next month.
I found a couple of fossils even though I wasn't really looking. I'll replace the fossils with rocks.
Tomorrow, I will take my first labyrinth walk in a couple of years. It is the anniversary of a day I like to remember. That's why I did not walk today.
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Post by Stormrider on Nov 16, 2020 7:18:13 GMT -6
I'm glad you had good weather there to do the burn. But you all look bundled up despite that! I hope it wasn't too windy. (We had high winds up here!)
I could see the progress on exposing the labrynth. I could see the old form starting to appear as weeds were getting removed. It looks great, especially after adding the shells.
Will you need to do burns every year? I know you said you only use fire and salt. Does the salt prevent weeds from growing?
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Post by fanuidhol on Nov 16, 2020 7:41:21 GMT -6
I'll be spreading "pool" salt once a year because that seems to be the cheapest way. Yes, salt will kill most plants for a time, but not forever, because it will leach from the soil. That in combination with hand weeding and fire occasionally, should keep the labyrinth in good shape, as long as I am persistent. Ideally, I will need to use the "weed dragon" over individual weeds until I superheat the roots, also. A slow process. You didn't get to see a picture but, I did a phase 3 burning over the whole thing, trying to get more of the soil line superheated.
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Post by fanuidhol on Nov 16, 2020 16:38:51 GMT -6
I took my labyrinth walk this morning as I reflected on today's anniversary. It was wonderful.
Group texted with my kids, earlier. Everyone went to bed early and is sore today. LOL
My hands are so beat up, I don't even want to roof jump. Hard to believe, isn't it? I don't think I'd have good enough reflexes for it, let alone the stamina in my fingers for repetition.
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Post by Andorinha on Nov 17, 2020 8:49:48 GMT -6
Quite a project, reminds me of slash-and-burn, annual preparations for the fields each Fall. Ah, can see the pattern clearly now. LOL, what will archaeologists say two thousand years on?
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