wow, when did you guys start up?

[NMDemDist2]

I'm the Queen of Frugal decorating and clothing, Hubby cracks up when I complain about thrift store prices. :rofl:

living in AZ power is a big issue, but we did invest in a new air handler a couple years ago that is helping alot. We also installed a whole house "on demand" water heater at the same time so we don't keep 40 gallons of water hot (or re-heating when the timer kicked on)

We are planning on moving in a couple years to a more rural location so we'll be trying to get more "off the grid" then.

so glad I found you guys!

[eleny]

1. Started up a couple of weeks ago

And I'll join you in grousing about thrift prices. You know that's coming when they clean up the store! My favorite ARC store moved into a new location and it's not nearly as chock full to the gills and messy. Now the prices got higher. I guess the new rent might be higher, so I should understand. But geez! I still miss the chaos of the old location.

I didn't know you were planning to move after a while!

Meantime, let's start a thread about your on-demand hot water heater. We moved our traditional one to the back hall/mud room where the washer and work sink are located. It's unsightly and getting up in years at 8 years old. It could last a lot longer but I want to start researching in earnest for an on-demand. I once read something about one that is natural gas powered and doesn't need electricity. A sensitive membrane that senses when there's a demand and it startes the pilot without an electric spark. I hope I didn't dream that one night. If I could get one it would make a nice difference in that back hall that's off the kitchen and save on gas.

:hi: :hi: :hi:

[anitar1]

2. We have the natural gas heater. does not use any electricity

and supplies a large house with 5 bathrooms. My apartment has 1 ,there is also another bath upstairs but we never use that apartment as it is just for guests. There are 3 baths downstairs where my daughter and family live. Have 2 teenagers down there who take looong showers. We never run out of hot water. We replaced 2 electric hot water heaters with this one , rather small gas heater. We love it and it costs much less to heat the water. We have good insulation and storm windows throughout. We also have insulated blinds and woodstove, and I am still looking for ways to conserve. Am glad to see this new site. BTW, the heater hangs on an outside wall.We also have gas heat and cooking, but curtail the use of the gas heat. Woodstoves are wonderful,They put out such a nice heat. I am wondering about the pellet stoves.Does anyone have one? And how well do they perform ?

[NMDemDist2]

3. sounds great. I hear pellets work fine, are easier to store and transport

but pricier than wood. but also MUCH less polluting.

I built a house in CA (3003 SF) that had NO electric/gas heaters (water or air) whatsoever. We had two wood stoves, solar and ran pipes under 500 square foot of floor tiles for a radiant heat/cooling source. We heated water with the stoves when the solar wasn't producing, in the summer, we reversed the flow and the cold water when under the tile and cooled the house with the help of ceiling fans before it went up to the solar panels.

the plumbing was a little complicated, but it worked great!

I hope to do something similar in AZ in the next house, and was intrigued about the story of the Bosnians who tiled half way up the walls for cooling.