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TwoDogNight

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Posts posted by TwoDogNight

    New England Met Summer 2022 Banter

    in New England

    Posted

    On 8/14/2022 at 8:48 AM, TwoDogNight said:

    On those of us that heat with fuel oil....

    Trying to reconcile that article with the mid winter futures contracts...

    https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/ho.1  Big betters...buy Feb 2023 contract now and make 2.5x your money in 6 months?

    But either way my stove will be busy...

     

    So...when I wrote this about the heating oil futures...it's up 10% or so in 9 or so days...looks like I should have been a bettor.

    It's gonna be a nasty winter for a lot of people if it's a cold one.  :-(

     

    Spring Banter

    in New England

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Hailstoned said:

    I get $120/month in SREC credits through National Grid and have for the past 3 years since going solar. Helps offset the price of the system.

    SREC is replaced by SMART, right?

    Spring Banter

    in New England

    Posted

    Regarding difference in solar pricing, I just learned that National Grid SMART incentives filled up compared to Eversource.  $7000 is a lot of electric bills.  Certainly not interested in a system with that kind of pricing differential. 

     It's like Prius Prime (plug-in) or any plug-in hybrid.  Massive incentives makes them cost less than regular hybrids.  Not sure that is a good fair market driver.

    Prius Prime has a $4500 cash incentive from Toyota.  Guess that tells me how well they are selling compared to SUVs.  $4500 from Toyota, $4500 from Feds, and I think $1500 from MA.  Not bad if you like the Prius.  

    Spring Banter

    in New England

    Posted

    22 hours ago, BrianW said:

    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. 

     

     

    Screenshot_20210220-054753_Chrome.jpg

    Incentives are MUCH MUCH better for some in MA versus others...

     

     

    Screenshot_20210328-141248.png

    March 2021 Weather Discussion

    in New England

    Posted

    6 hours ago, MarkO said:

    The branches in the street were small enough to move. The one in my yard is at least 8" dia and probably weighs a couple hundred pounds. Glad it landed in the yard and not on my head. I initially thought it was a spruce due to it's location, but it's also a white pine. 

    20210301_235534 (002).jpg

    in my case, snap goes the tree....shed was LUCKY...need to have some drip edge, trim, and shingles replaced, but could have been MUCH worse...

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/gY9J8sLQ4mgVkErL9

    • Sad 1

    March 2021 Weather Discussion

    in New England

    Posted

    1 hour ago, MarkO said:

    Real deal wind. Popped my head out the front door to witness a large (8" +/-) Norway Spruce branch drop on the front lawn. I gotta admit, I'm a bit nervous as I have a couple 100 footer White pines within about 30' form my house.

    Looks like we got some snow up north.

     

    1 hour ago, MarkO said:

     

    SAME!   Too close!!!  Time for tree guy.  

    Heard one snap just into the woods behind the house.  Grazed shed. 

    Went out to investigate with flashlight and ran back in house.  Too scary.

    Tonight's was larger than last one that snapped Feb 6th.  That widowmaker was one that I had walked DIRECTLY under 5 minutes earlier with snowblower.  (Fresh tracks in picture.)  Pucker!

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/SBTc5GLLt5EG1EXs9

       

    Winter Banter and General Disco 2

    in New England

    Posted

    Seeking advice from this diverse group...COMPLETELY non-weather related...NON-car nuts can skip?

    Long time lurker but with the diversity of knowledge I've witnessed here for quite a few years...looking for thoughts/experiences...and yes, I know, first world problem here...

     

    I inherited a pair of cars from my Dad.  The past two years they were winter stored at my Mom's house.  That may be changing.  

    I have a (too small for everyday car, but sized well for the (toy) cars attached garage (22x22).  

    Options that have come to mind:

    A. both cars in the garage, and everyday cars live outside.  no cost is great, but someday I'll be commuting daily again and sometimes it does snow , and my wife might hate the toys getting the garage and not her car and it's inevitable especially in winter that using garage as pass through from outside, putting snowblower in garage, shovels, grocery, etc. the toys are going to be in the way/bumped/etc...see car nut in first sentence.  

    B: stacked in one bay with a 4 post lift (i.e. directlift.com) and one of the everyday cars (mine) lives in the driveway. happy wife, happy life, a lift would be really nice for working on the cars.

    C: B with one of those metal carports nestled in an area that would be too noticeable from the street.  What's best here...extend driveway asphalt (driveway redo may be on the docket for this year anyway), pour a cement pad, anchor on crushed stone?  advantage here is, not having to move cars (kids have cars as well, yes...our house looks like a used car lot) all the time to get cars in and out of garage, weather protection

    D: single car prefab garage (i.e. https://www.kloterfarms.com/page.cfm?p=45764) AND the lift stacking one of the cars above the everyday other everyday in other bay.  partial man cave on a budget.   

    E: dual lifts, dual stacking.  (a car nut can dream, right?)  Kinda wish my garage ceiling height was about 1' more to stack over my SUV, and about 3' longer for more room!

     

    F: time machine and build that 24x24 garage I had a GREAT quote for two years ago.  :-(  economically, a poor idea then, and more so now but if I could roll back the clock, I think I would do it because the price was THAT good...but would I love to have that space to setup a man cave for working on the cars.  

      

    So...any thoughts or experiences on lifts, carports, prefab garages?  

    September 2020 Discussion

    in New England

    Posted

    29 minutes ago, dryslot said:

    Never even considered Matthew brothers, A lot of great window mfgs out there, Could have went with Pella or Anderson's but they have slipped in quality over the years and folks still go with them because of name recognition.

    Renewal by Andersen...cha-CHING!

    September 2020 Discussion

    in New England

    Posted

    1 hour ago, dryslot said:

    Went with my brother in laws recommendations, He's been a contractor for 30 yrs and has done Harvey's, Who did you go with?

    Analysis paralysis steered me to Okna.  Harvey was a close second.  Mathews Brothers hit my radar screen after the fact.  

    September 2020 Discussion

    in New England

    Posted

    7 hours ago, dryslot said:

    Wow, You had to wait that long? I went with Harvey Windows, Which are rated the best vinyl windows and i would highly recommend them,  It was 3 weeks for the build, I had certainteed vinyl replacements from back in the 70's as well, Just about the time they had just came out, Not very efficient as they were drafty as heck in the winter, My bedroom was always cold and one windy night while at my computer i noticed the curtains moving and there was an 1/8" gap in the window and the cold air was just rushing in, Also went with a new cold fired boiler as well and have already realized a big savings on that in just 5 mos, The windows will absorb the sun in the winter and reflect it in the summer so i should realize added savings as well, My house was built in the 40's so we have been making steady improvements over the years but a big push this year with Boiler, Windows, Roof and Flooring.

    https://www.harveybp.com/

    what about Maine made windows?  Mathews Brothers.  I don't live in Maine, and they weren't on my radar screen until after I installed new replacements.  I did look at Harvey and they were in my top 3, but didn't go with them.

    Summer 2020 Banter and random observations

    in New England

    Posted

    On 7/12/2020 at 10:13 AM, dryslot said:

    One thing is certain, All this heat and rain has been good for the garden, Its early for my squash as I've picked a few summer ones the last two weeks.

    Lurker here...and I was hoping these pics would be posted again this year so I could remember which person was doing this setup.  I saw them before and wondered more about the setup.  Not hydroponic?  Yields look amazing for the space used.  Care to share info via forum or PM?  Around me there are a lot more backyard gardens this year than previous years.  My take on #GrowFoodNotLawns.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/CPJcET3cRDqNKadg7

    9th annual Lawn Thread 2018

    in New England

    Posted

    On 9/2/2018 at 9:00 AM, TwoDogNight said:

    looking for fertilizer spreader options that are reasonably priced.  had cheapo scotts and recent earthway 2030pplus that separated axle from gearbox.  30,000 sq ft approx lawn area.  

    I had all summer to look for something since it broke on last application, but I forgot all about it.  I ended up ordering a Titan 50# (some assembly required).  It's okay.  Nothing spectacular.  It was on special for $84.95 with free shipping the day I bought it.  I have since seen an different colored model at the local Agway and on Home Depot website for $45 more.  Glad I didn't pay that much for it.  

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