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> My ability to live in a green way is more or less irrelevant to the planet I noticed something one day. I had recently built a home gym and gave some friend

> My ability to live in a green way is more or less irrelevant to the planet I noticed something one day. I had recently built a home gym and gave some friends a tour of it. The next week I hear that they're now working out and going to their local gym. That moment made me realize the positive effect our actions can have on others. It'll be the same with living green. Just by doing it, you are convincing other people that it's possible and that they should give it a try. My home is now 100% powered by solar (just got the Tesla batteries installed a few days ago). It cost less than a kitchen remodel, will be paid off in 10 years, is 100% off-grid 100% of the year, and we've sacrificed no amenities (still got the A/C going comfortably :) ). I'm one small fish in the pond, but my house is now a blaring advertisement for a greener future.

ZeroGravitas 9y ago
There's been some research that suggests neighbours with solar is a big predictor for who gets solar next, which backs this up. And in general, the theory of "social proof" suggests people like to follow the crowd in lots of ways.
- ams6110 9y ago
  Well, that's the reason we have so many people driving huge SUVs too.
brianwawok 9y ago
Did you literally cut the utility wire to be able to proclaim off grid on hacker news, or are you grid neutral and still keep the connection around for emergencies? If you did cut i am curious the plan for say a very cloudy 7 days.
- photojosh 9y ago
  I've not made the jump (indeed, don't have solar at all) since we don't own our house. But I briefly looked into the solution here, and a suitable gas generator is ~$5k. Would be expensive to run, sure, but very quickly cheaper to have it on standby than stay connected to the grid.
  - sliverstorm 9y ago
    How so? At least in our area, the fixed portion of the electric bill is only a few dollars. And, hell, I imagine I could cancel my service and pay nothing, connected or no. (And the grid is vital to a future of country-wide renewable power IMO, so I'm not personally eager to undermine it)
    - fencepost 9y ago
      Some of this will depend on what kind of regulation exists/has been purchased in your area. If you're not dumping excess power back to the grid it should just be a low usage connection, but in some places I believe if you have solar things get more complicated no matter your connection type.
prawn 9y ago
Further, I imagine any even small effort that is noticed can contribute positively. Things like: "We've started timing our showers." "We do Meat-Free Mondays. It's easy and cheaper." "I've got into xeriscaping recently." There are a number of things that are generally cheaper, not much effort and probably interesting to undertake.

ZeroGravitas 9y ago

There's been some research that suggests neighbours with solar is a big predictor for who gets solar next, which backs this up. And in general, the theory of "social proof" suggests people like to follow the crowd in lots of ways.

ams6110 9y ago
Well, that's the reason we have so many people driving huge SUVs too.

brianwawok 9y ago

Did you literally cut the utility wire to be able to proclaim off grid on hacker news, or are you grid neutral and still keep the connection around for emergencies? If you did cut i am curious the plan for say a very cloudy 7 days.

photojosh 9y ago
I've not made the jump (indeed, don't have solar at all) since we don't own our house. But I briefly looked into the solution here, and a suitable gas generator is ~$5k. Would be expensive to run, sure, but very quickly cheaper to have it on standby than stay connected to the grid.
- sliverstorm 9y ago
  How so? At least in our area, the fixed portion of the electric bill is only a few dollars. And, hell, I imagine I could cancel my service and pay nothing, connected or no. (And the grid is vital to a future of country-wide renewable power IMO, so I'm not personally eager to undermine it)
  - fencepost 9y ago
    Some of this will depend on what kind of regulation exists/has been purchased in your area. If you're not dumping excess power back to the grid it should just be a low usage connection, but in some places I believe if you have solar things get more complicated no matter your connection type.

prawn 9y ago

Further, I imagine any even small effort that is noticed can contribute positively. Things like: "We've started timing our showers." "We do Meat-Free Mondays. It's easy and cheaper." "I've got into xeriscaping recently." There are a number of things that are generally cheaper, not much effort and probably interesting to undertake.