putting the home backup battery to use (power out)!
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@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds we can’t recommend these yet. Too new. Generic, through Amazon (couldn’t find anything like them elsewhere). They were advertised as 500W but labeled as 100W. The label also said 4 blades, but they have the expected three. We’ll post more this summer, when we have more data. They are about as noisy as a newer dishwasher.
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@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds we can’t recommend these yet. Too new. Generic, through Amazon (couldn’t find anything like them elsewhere). They were advertised as 500W but labeled as 100W. The label also said 4 blades, but they have the expected three. We’ll post more this summer, when we have more data. They are about as noisy as a newer dishwasher.
@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds the distributor gave a nice discount because of the discrepancy, as an incentive not to return them.
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@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds the distributor gave a nice discount because of the discrepancy, as an incentive not to return them.
@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds we would love these
https://www.flowerturbines.com/
But a two year wait, and we wanted to install before the tax credits went away
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@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds we would love these
https://www.flowerturbines.com/
But a two year wait, and we wanted to install before the tax credits went away
@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds we really wanted these, but they aren’t for the consumer yet, just businesses
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@susankayequinn @kim_harding
And when it comes to energy resilience and security of supply, everyone having their own back up system is very likely the most costly and least resource efficient strategy.From an equity perspective, there are many who cannot afford it, so the expectation that this is a universal solution is misplaced.
That said, I fully understand and respect the fact that for many people, your solution is appropriate, and may be the only viable option.
I very much understand that there are no universal solutions — I say that a lot and I mean it. However, there are also no *permanent* solutions until we get to something that looks sustainable and we do NOT know what that is right now (we cannot), and so moving toward more sustainable solutions (even if they're temporary) is super important.
First, get the gas cars off the road and transform the transport sector—that means EVs and public transit (and bikes/ebikes!)...
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I very much understand that there are no universal solutions — I say that a lot and I mean it. However, there are also no *permanent* solutions until we get to something that looks sustainable and we do NOT know what that is right now (we cannot), and so moving toward more sustainable solutions (even if they're temporary) is super important.
First, get the gas cars off the road and transform the transport sector—that means EVs and public transit (and bikes/ebikes!)...
@PaulWermer @kim_harding
...at the same time, work on densification so public transit will work better.Also decarbonize & change our food systems, production systems, fast fashion, fishing, etc. Work for justice.
Everything has to move in the right direction all at once. A sustainable world (that I spend full time imagining/writing) looks nothing like today but we can't get there in one step.
I can't say everything in a Masto post... this is why I write books.
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@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds we would love these
https://www.flowerturbines.com/
But a two year wait, and we wanted to install before the tax credits went away
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@gatesvp it is also crazy how regulations can be *so far behind* on this, but that's generally not by accident — utilities really do invest all kinds of $ in preventing conversion to solar. Solar (and the battery backups) are radical decentralization of power, and they do not want that. It'll be a fight the whole way.
@susankayequinn in this case I live in BC, Canada. The energy system is managed by Crown Corporation (government non-profit), known as BC Hydro.
So in my case, it's actually a different, but weirder confluence of issues. The V2L thing is actually specific to my region, but they're just behind, if I lived 2 miles over, it would all be fine. But the bigger issue at the provincial level is really one of mandates and priorities.
BC Hydro was basically designed to take energy from hydroelectric dams and feed that energy to downstream consumers. They have a grander mission around providing "clean electricity" to everyone at low cost. But in the current context of "we operate a bunch of dams", I think that vision is different from what a solarpunk enthusiast would expect.
To their credit, they launched a plan in 2025 to start upgrading things. But it's a 20-year plan and it's literally in discussion phases right now.
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@susankayequinn @weezmgk @czds From what I’ve read, Flower Turbines are among the best. I also like how they customize the electronics for your situation, and the bouquet arrangement to allow symbiotic interactions among a group of turbines. A bouquet of Flower Turbines as a “wall” of a solar pavilion would be neat.
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@susankayequinn in this case I live in BC, Canada. The energy system is managed by Crown Corporation (government non-profit), known as BC Hydro.
So in my case, it's actually a different, but weirder confluence of issues. The V2L thing is actually specific to my region, but they're just behind, if I lived 2 miles over, it would all be fine. But the bigger issue at the provincial level is really one of mandates and priorities.
BC Hydro was basically designed to take energy from hydroelectric dams and feed that energy to downstream consumers. They have a grander mission around providing "clean electricity" to everyone at low cost. But in the current context of "we operate a bunch of dams", I think that vision is different from what a solarpunk enthusiast would expect.
To their credit, they launched a plan in 2025 to start upgrading things. But it's a 20-year plan and it's literally in discussion phases right now.
@gatesvp in general, I think Canada is very far ahead on the US, but there will always be hiccups on the way to a better future. I have tolerance for that! (I also think depending on hydro in a warming world has a lot of updates in thinking that need to be done)
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@gatesvp in general, I think Canada is very far ahead on the US, but there will always be hiccups on the way to a better future. I have tolerance for that! (I also think depending on hydro in a warming world has a lot of updates in thinking that need to be done)
@susankayequinn and actually, that's already a reality they've been facing. They have had some years where they inputted hydrocarbons from elsewhere because the snowpack was simply too low.
And if you follow through some of the documents, you also getting things like a solar association specifically asking for support. BC has a ton of islands and remote communities.
In a lot of those places, the best way to deliver resilience is to provide local generation and storage. I think it's part of why this 20-year plan is a big deal. Because it's not an easy plan to make, and it definitely involves a hydro company moving outside of their specific expertise.
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Ioniq6 car is best car! LOL
@susankayequinn I wish there were more of us because it's looking like Hyundai won't be selling more in the US except the N version...
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@susankayequinn I wish there were more of us because it's looking like Hyundai won't be selling more in the US except the N version...
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@susankayequinn If it's not another crossover SUV or pickup, Americans don't seem to care
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@susankayequinn If it's not another crossover SUV or pickup, Americans don't seem to care
@wellschmaltz IDK I think there are plenty of us who want the smaller cars but the automakers refuse to make them
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@wellschmaltz IDK I think there are plenty of us who want the smaller cars but the automakers refuse to make them
@susankayequinn I like to think so. The profit margin on small cars isn't as good,, though, and the relentless advertising and the (not entirely illegitimate) fear of what happens when your small car gets hit by a Dodge Ram have conspired to make car bloat epidemic.
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@susankayequinn I like to think so. The profit margin on small cars isn't as good,, though, and the relentless advertising and the (not entirely illegitimate) fear of what happens when your small car gets hit by a Dodge Ram have conspired to make car bloat epidemic.
@wellschmaltz I feel like the entire trend is driven by automaker profit motive (and the unwillingness of the government to put sufficient regulations on that)
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@wellschmaltz I feel like the entire trend is driven by automaker profit motive (and the unwillingness of the government to put sufficient regulations on that)
@susankayequinn And entrenched by the tariff barriers that are currently keeping out competition from the likes of BYD that could be disciplining our automakers with diverse, affordable electric vehicles. BTW, do check out the recent "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile" if you haven't. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/757609/life-after-cars-by-sarah-goodyear-doug-gordon-and-aaron-naparstek/
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"If you want a sense of how close we’re dancing to the brink, check out this new study from some of the heavy hitters in climate research, documenting the approach (or in too many cases the passing) of various tipping points in the earth’s climate system."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/11/point-of-no-return-hothouse-earth-global-heating-climate-tipping-points@susankayequinn Billionaires could help since they are much of the problem. They wont. Smart people could help, too much invested in making more data centers for their #AI slop no one wants but them, they wont. People in power in the US to invested in being stupid calling everything a hoax because its easier than trying to fix it.
We are truly screwed.
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@susankayequinn Billionaires could help since they are much of the problem. They wont. Smart people could help, too much invested in making more data centers for their #AI slop no one wants but them, they wont. People in power in the US to invested in being stupid calling everything a hoax because its easier than trying to fix it.
We are truly screwed.
@Crystal_Fish_Caves we are being oppressed and we will have to work together for change. Seems impossible but it's absolutely not — in fact, it is already happening. Data centers are being fought, ICE is being fought, billionaires have never been more hated.
Keep going
