Re: Self build in Canada
 

Here you go

http://www.oksolar.com/roof/ :thumbsup:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Ok lets put this septic tank to bed shell we.. The code requirements for a septic system for a 6 bed house. roughly

Daily allowance lpd 4 bed = 1705
Additional bed @ 350
Additional bed @ 350

Total for 6 bed 2408 litres per day

Size of double compartment tank

Litres/day 2056 – 2730 = 6136 lts ( approx 1300 gallons )

Distrubution pipe in poor soil = 600 ft
in good soil = 375 ft


Approximate cost of material which will include the tank, the leach field pipe and the specialize back fill ( a low silt gravel ) permits etc is about $ 5000

Based on the prices some people are prepared to pay think I might blow the $2500 to get my own installers licence. There’s a digger for sale ATM second hand for $12000 which mean I will only pay $19500 for the system and I get to keep the digger :eek:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

those PV panels look interesting. I'll have to cost them out much better than huge great panels all over the roof

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Just wanted to throw this out there (something I've been thinking about for a year or so).

If you're going to generate your own electricity (PV and/or windmills) and store it in a battery bank (perfect for those mid-winter Nor'Easter power outages) then why not do the whole install/build with 12v LED lighting and wiring?

Surely there would be a cost saving on copper, not sure what gauge wire would be ideal (would depend on the current draw of the LEDs) but it would be less than the standard home gauge (14). So there should be a substantial saving in electrical materials cost? LEDs might last longer than CFLs and are less explosive/do not contain mercury.

Add an inverter for the well pump and whatever else you think should run off-grid, perhaps the fridge.

I know you mentioned you want a grid tie-in system but are you totally decided on that? When there's a power outage, you'll have no power too. These guys are supposedly a world-leader in deep cell batteries, they're based in NS, if you're interested http://www.rollsbattery.com/content/...ions-renewable

Please keep us posted, with pics if possible, I for one would like to learn from your experience. You probably already know this but there are government grants/credits for installation of 'green' energy generation products such as solar and geothermal.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Thanks for the link Greenhill,

I have looked into storing the power in batteries my concern is that battery technology is lagging so far behind PV tech. The batteries seem to be very expensive and have a very limited life span compared to the PV’s. In the link you gave me they provide a 7 year warranty that suggest to me in 10 year or less I’ll have to replace them, not a cheap thing to do, also considered the 12v option mainly for the lighting but no good unless you have the batteries, guess it’s a kind of chicken and egg situation :)

Using the power direct from the PV is advantageous because running it through an inverter uses a percentage of the generated power to convert it just looking into the percentages ATM.

I’ve looked into a gas (petrol) generator to cover the outages and you can pick up a generator (big enough to keep the house going. Things like minimal heating, cooking, fridges and light etc) relatively cheaply this can be wired directly into your house and will cut in automatically when the power drops out good if your away on holiday or something, don’t come home to a basement full of melted ice cream :)

Mind you while I’m writing this and thinking about it, the last time I priced the battery system was here in the UK might be a worth while exercise to cost it out in Canada.

Ya I’ve seen some thing about the grants and tax breaks not really gone into them that deep at this stage need to known what I’m ultimately building first I think. maybe theres some on here that knows more about them?? be nice to hear from them if there is.

anyway thanks again for the link you got me thinking again this is the whole idea behind this thread to pick up new ideas and to share things that I’ve got with you guys

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Wish I could get a grant for generating electricity from the creek that runs through my garden. I could have ran my whole house off it for several months of this year.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

you probably can. There are loads of hydro generating systems out there.
when i first met the wife 13 years ago we looked at a plot of land about a hundred miles north from the one were looking at now it had a 1/2 mile of river with the land the river was about 600 ft wide and didn't total freeze in winter sling a water turbine on the bed of that and you can get off grid and get 24/7 power for a fraction of the cost of PV panels

Re: Self build in Canada
 

I've looked it into a little - not a great deal, but it's a project that I'd like to look at more seriously at some point in the next few years. My problem is that to do anything worthwhile means building something to divert the flow (a simple water wheel won't work because the level is to volatile). Building anything on or near the creek is difficult as it's 'fish bearing' and so has special rules about what you can do to with it - set backs and such.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

you can get a pipe turbine that lays on the river bed the flow goes down the pipe and turns the generator. there also fish friendly

Re: Self build in Canada
 

I've seen those; when I (eventually) get round to it, it will be something like that. The creek varies from being babbling brook to a 4m wide torrent so it will take some planning.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

thats the thing with all this 'eventually' I've waited 13 years to do this, now the time is right, i'm gonna take early retirement when i'm 55 and build my own house instead of someone elses. I've been running my own company now for 25 years, time to hang up the tool belt and do it for me

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Be a bit canny with the heat pump thing as previously mentioned. In my experience with these things they're good for about -15° and then they start to become less efficient rapidly. Daikin are about the best out there (IMHO) or maybe a Fujitsu. Either way I'd be looking at a secondary source of non-electrically powered heat e.g a wood stove. Without a generator you're going to be cold with power outages.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

I think the OP mentioned earlier about also adding a wood stove. I'd be in that camp as well. Belt n braces approach and Canada's not likely to run out of wood any time soon. ;)

On the solar tiles theme... found a site that gives a some info on what is available , with images, but it's more of a google ads cash generating site with no supply or prices. Gives you a few ideas though.

http://www.solartiles.co.uk/solar-pv-tiles.html

http://www.solartiles.co.uk/siteimag...r-tile-300.jpg

http://www.solartiles.co.uk/siteimag...olar-tiles.jpg

Hopefully they come in different colours!

For different approaches check the other links in the main menu... but not necessarily the google ads links.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

From Bellanova's link:

http://www.oksolar.com/images/solar_...olar_shing.jpg

Yep.... that is the idea also. :thumbup:

This type of approach intrigues me, as opposed to large panels.
I seems to recall that they were a bit expensive, but that was a few years back. Hopefully, costs have started to come down and are comparable with a large panel installation.

I think PV roof tiles look the business anyway. They also do the job, so having something that works and doesn't detract from the look of the house has to be a winner. :thumbsup:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Thanks for your post Mr Bean,

As I said in post #34 I too am sceptical about the performance of heat pumps particularly at extreme low temperatures think I might also look at the relative cost for ground source which isn’t temperature, or at least air temperature dependent, but either way the log burner will definitely be on the shopping list if only for the feel good factor and the generator is a must.