BrianW

Thanks. For tick/insect control everyone seems to recommend wondercide. Anyone have any experience with it? https://www.wondercide.com/collections/yard-and-garden-pests

What does everyone use for lawn fertilizer with pets? We got a puppy in November and fenced in a 5000sq/ft area for him. Want to use something natural/organic to make the lawn nice for him. Saw this at Lowes. I guess its made from sewage sludge? https://www.lowes.com/pd/PROCARE-36-lb-2500-sq-ft-4-3-0-Natural-Lawn-Fertilizer/1000696136

Can see it here well. Does anyone else use this ap Windy? It's pretty awesome. Has a ton of cool data including all the popular models. I highly recommend checking it out.

I got one scheduled at the Old Saybrook drive through site this Saturday. CT is doing really well with the vaccine. I believe we have the 3rd highest state vaccination rate now.

We put in a deck a few years ago and had to get a zoning variance. What a nightmare and long and expensive process. Had to go in front of the zoning board multiple times to get them to approve it. The whole process took like 6 months.. They also made me spend a few thousand on a survey before and I after I built the deck. As much as a pain it was now a days you need to do it. My neighbor built an addition without permits like 5 feet from the property line where we have a 25 foot zoning setback. The town caught it and made his life a living hell. He had to spend big money on lawyers as the town wanted him to rip it down. Also, now a days everything is checked much more thoroughly when houses are sold. If you have an illegal addition, deck, shed, etc you can almost guarantee it will be found when you try and sell.

A friends brother is a store manager at Lowes who is making like 5x his normal salary in sales bonuses. They often exceed their average weekly pre-covid sales in a single day now.

Just saw some data here from Yale New Haven Health. The drop off on older ages being admitted to the hospital has been massive. The vaccine is clearly having a big impact on the older vulnerable population. Around 80% of the deaths in CT have been in the 85+ age group. Balcezak said that, since Dec. 27, the hospital system has seen a 77 percent reduction in the number of hospitalized Covid patients over the age of 75. It’s seen a 72 percent reduction among Covid-positive patients between the ages of 65 and 74. It’s seen a 66 percent reduction among Covid-positive patients between the ages of 55 and 64.

It looks like the SREC program ended and was replaced with smart program which in an up-front incentive. You probably got in pre 2018 before they switched over. The upfront incentive is better in my opinion as you get the cash all up front. What did you pay for your system? Did you get anything upfront or just SRECs? The SMART Program officially launched on November 26, 2018, marking the last day solar Generation Units in Massachusetts were able to qualify for the SREC II Program. https://www.mass.gov/guides/solar-carve-out-and-solar-carve-out-ii-program-information

Eversource is running a program called demand response where you allow them to draw from your battery during high demand days in the summer. They pay you for each event up to $1375 a year. New England currently relies on mostly oil fired peaker power plants that sit idle for like 95% of the year. Just like what happened in Texas when they are needed they can charge outrageously high rates. Here is the program if anyone's interested. https://www.eversource.com/content/ema-c/residential/save-money-energy/manage-energy-costs-usage/demand-response/battery-storage-demand-response

If I remember correctly Taunton has their own municipal power and is like half of what Eversource charges. Massachusetts has like the 4th highest electricity rates at .22 kwh. For most people the payback period at those rates is 4-5 years . I don't think people realize how expensive electricity is in New England compared to the rest of the nation. Here is the data from the EIA. The Taunton incentive is pretty nuts though at $9k. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a

Just heard some distant thunder. Radar looks good to the southwest.

I financed with a low interest home equity loan through my credit union. My monthly payment was basically my average monthly electric bill. Instead of paying for electricity I paid my loan off.. My Eversource bill has been $9 for just the service charge for the last 4 years. If your in Massachusetts the incentives are obscene. They have one now for batteries/powerwalls. I think 1 powerwall retails for 7k. You can get 3 for less than that. This system would cost like 3 to 4x the amount in Ohio. This is a Tesla quote for ny sister in Boston. The incentives in Mass are nuts. I think your payback period is 4-5 years and then its free electricity for the next 20.

Finally got some good hikes in at the Supply Ponds. The destruction is unreal there. You ever get over there to take a look?

Yep. Big gust and temp went from 61 to 76 here in minutes.

Just came over 84 from NY. What a torch in the Hudson Valley. My work van was bouncing around 77-80.

Yep. Been an epic month for production.

Dolphins are here as well!

I work in a skilled trade. Been hearing from a lot of people new work is really starting to plummet off a cliff. I heard a few places have started to lay people off. It starting to sound like the COVID boom with people doing work around their house is coming to a end. There is also a huge drop in commercial work.

Its an early spring here on the CT shoreline. Was raking this morning and my Hydrangeas have leaves popping. I had stuff sprouting already in Mid January.

Lumber prices are through the roof again. They are even higher than last years peak. Just saw a single non PT 2 x 4 going for almost $8.

GON putting up an impressive 23 for a low. Was the 2nd coldest low in the state overnight.

Robins arrived here and are all over my lawn this morning.

To those with solar, March has been a epic month so far for production. Going on 11 straight days of almost full sun here.