Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I see Tesla’s battery (powerwall) will set you back $6,000 and that’s before installation!

Installing a solar panel system is very expensive, but in many areas there are also sizable tax credits for doing so. Plus, if such systems grow in popularity and more are produced, the increased production will drive the costs downward. Except for needing new batteries every 10-15 years, most of the cost is pretty much a one time boot to the head.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Like another poster said though, manufacturing of them is harmful to the environment.?

No more so than conventional batteries are now. The environmental impact is mostly the result of improper disposal. When recycled properly, the impact is negligible.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

No more so than conventional batteries are now. The environmental impact is mostly the result of improper disposal. When recycled properly, the impact is negligible.

Thanks.

Been reading about all this stuff over the last few weeks. Hydro sounds like the most promising to me.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Thanks.

Been reading about all this stuff over the last few weeks. Hydro sounds like the most promising to me.

Don't count those gerbils out yet, either.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Thanks.

Been reading about all this stuff over the last few weeks. Hydro sounds like the most promising to me.

Originally Posted by Vilya

Don't count those gerbils out yet, either.

I guess it depends on our government. They will have to fit existing homes with this stuff. Going to be some project that.

[Matthew.H]

Originally Posted by Vilya

No more so than conventional batteries are now. The environmental impact is mostly the result of improper disposal. When recycled properly, the impact is negligible.

Some of the material is definitely recoverable if the batteries are recycled correctly. The biggest impact really is mining the raw materials in the first place.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I guess it depends on our government. They will have to fit existing homes with this stuff. Going to be some project that.

Don't forget that the other nice thing about generating all of your own power is that you no longer have a monthly electric bill. If you generate more power than you use, you can actually sell the excess to the power utility and have them pay you.

In some parts of the U.S., solar power adopters are now required to pay what amounts to a tax to both access the power grid and to support the power grid in general which just shows that the system will never let you get ahead entirely.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Matthew.H

Some of the material is definitely recoverable if the batteries are recycled correctly. The biggest impact really is mining the raw materials in the first place.

I see you are from the UK. What time span do you see on the government pushing this to over 27 million households?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Don't forget that the other nice thing about generating all of your own power is that you no longer have a monthly electric bill. If you generate more power than you use, you can actually sell the excess to the power utility and have them pay you.

In some parts of the U.S., solar power adopters are now required to pay what amounts to a tax to both access the power grid and to support the power grid in general which just shows that the system will never let you get ahead entirely.

That means that you can access the grid at night for tv viewing, music listening etc though?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Matthew.H

Some of the material is definitely recoverable if the batteries are recycled correctly. The biggest impact really is mining the raw materials in the first place.

Those materials are mined, anyway, and for many diverse purposes. Mining can be accomplished in more environmentally friendly ways when sufficiently motivated/ regulated to do so.

[Matthew.H]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I see you are from the UK. What time span do you see on the government pushing this to over 27 million households?

If you mean mandatory solar panels on homes then goodness knows with how useless our government can be at times.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

That means that you can access the grid at night for tv viewing, music listening etc though?

If you are connected to the grid, you can fall back upon it if needed. Some choose to be entirely off of it and some have to be due to living in an extremely remote locale. Either way, that grid access/ grid support tax still gets levied in some areas.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Matthew.H

If you mean mandatory solar panels on homes then goodness knows with how useless our government can be at times.

Would you be concerned with what I have said? Or do you think us evening film watchers will be covered?

[Matthew.H]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Would you be concerned with what I have said? Or do you think us evening film watchers will be covered?

I wouldn't be concerned. Even if solar panels were made mandatory, there are other sources feeding power into the grid to cover for when the panels aren't generating, Wind/Hydro/Fossil Fuel/Nuclear. Hopefully we'll be able to reduce the need for those last two in time.

Yes evening film viewers will be fine.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

If you are connected to the grid, you can fall back upon it if needed. Some choose to be entirely off of it and some have to be due to living in an extremely remote locale. Either way, that grid access/ grid support tax still gets levied in some areas.

I would rather pay more to ensure evening viewing. I work day time mostly.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Sounds a bit too ‘cabin in the woods’ for my liking.

My younger brother has one of these, not a cabin in the woods but can be close. It uses 4 12V batteries connected in ∥ to feed the lighting directly and 120VAC via an inverter. You would be surprised how long you can go on one charge. The two A/C units are connected to curb side or generator only. I have started swapping out the florescent tubes with LED tubes and will start swapping out incandescent light bulbs with LED types on our next outing.

I have very few incandescent light bulbs at my residence and have swapped out a good part of my high efficiency florescent lighting to LED which is even more efficient. I am impressed at the amount of light a 10W LED bulb or 20W LED 4' tube can give off.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

My younger brother has one of these, not a cabin in the woods but can be close. It uses 4 12V batteries connected in ∥ to feed the lighting directly and 120VAC via an inverter. You would be surprised how long you can go on one charge. The two A/C units are connected to curb side or generator only. I have started swapping out the florescent tubes with LED tubes and will start swapping out incandescent light bulbs with LED types on our next outing.

I have very few incandescent light bulbs at my residence and have swapped out a good part of my high efficiency florescent lighting to LED which is even more efficient. I am impressed at the amount of light a 10W LED bulb or 20W LED 4' tube can give off.

Interesting. Thanks for that.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

My younger brother has one of these, not a cabin in the woods but can be close. It uses 4 12V batteries connected in ∥ to feed the lighting directly and 120VAC via an inverter. You would be surprised how long you can go on one charge. The two A/C units are connected to curb side or generator only. I have started swapping out the florescent tubes with LED tubes and will start swapping out incandescent light bulbs with LED types on our next outing.

I have very few incandescent light bulbs at my residence and have swapped out a good part of my high efficiency florescent lighting to LED which is even more efficient. I am impressed at the amount of light a 10W LED bulb or 20W LED 4' tube can give off.

I replaced all of my household light bulbs with LEDs, except for appliances, and I will replace even those with LED if they are available and when necessary. LED bulbs are every bit as bright and I can now literally have every light on in the house for the power consumption of two 60 watt incandescent bulbs.

I have a lot of ceiling light fixtures and I love not having to change the bulbs in them for the next 10 years. Not having to routinely replace incandescent bulbs in these ceiling light fixtures reduces the risk of my falling and breaking my precious funny bone.

[octagon]

So now we're worried about electricity going away?

How freaking long was I sleeping???

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

So now we're worried about electricity going away?

How freaking long was I sleeping???

Not exactly. More about the type. Global warming is obviously a real problem. Fossil fuels are no doubt going to be substituted and a potential issue is how we as home cinema lovers, can continue to enjoy our entertainment when we want.