Restarting the GRG Blog

Greetings! This blog has been dormant for several years and now might be a good time to bring it back to an active state. We will be posting a few different type of items to get things started. If you would like to comment or have and environmental item you would like to bring up, please do.

Alternatives to Driving

This blog is for showing how to get around other than driving. Please add your story on how you use alternatives to driving by clicking on the word "comments".

Hikes Beyond The South Bay (non-Local)

Blog your non-local hikes by adding to the "comments".

Local Hikes

Blog your local hikes here. Use the comment button to add your hike.

Going Solar

In December of 2004, we were finally able to make our home a solar home. In preparation for putting up our solar PV and solar hot water panels, we made our home more energy friendly. Some of the things we did are as follows:

• Replaced worn out appliances with energy efficient ones
• Replaced burned out incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones
• Added insulation to the attic
• Installed a clothes line to let the sun and wind dry our clothes
• Got a solar oven to reduce energy use
• Installed double pane windows
• Put in California native plants to shade the house in the summer
  

By the time the solar panels were installed, we had reduced our energy footprint enough to install a 1.4 kW (effective) system rather than the original 3.0 kW system it would have taken. We also ended the 2005 year a net energy producer at that. We even produce energy on cloudy days.

The solar hot water does a great job but does need direct sunlight. A couple of hours will do it. We use it to feed our tankless water heater, which we use as a backup. The tankless water heater will not even turn on if the water is hot enough coming in from the solar hot water panel which it is quite often. We have cut our natural gas use in half just with this set up.

The sun oven works great, even on cold days so long as there is sun. It can cook 3 potatoes and 2 yams together on a sunny day in about 2 hours. We have also cooked brownies, veggie stew, veggie chili, bread, and more in it. It doesn't heat up the house and the cooking smells stay outside as well as saving energy.

If you have any questions on how to go solar, reduce greenhouse gas emission, conserve energy, and save money in the long term, please ask.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to the Guadalupe Group blog. Please feel free to post items about great hikes you have taken, environmental issues, sustainability steps you have taken, and/or questions on the environment.