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March 26, 2006
Eye Candy
Yesterday was a very full day. Kidless for the afternoon, we figured we would grab a late lunch and run some Erwin House-related errands.
We headed over to the Sustainable Shopper's Ball (the "Sustain-a-Ball") first with the hopes that we would be able to get more info on photo-voltaics (PV's, or solar panels) and rain barrells. The website wasn't really very clear on when the event would start or end, but it said they would have food. Unfortunately, we got there a tad too late. Everyone was clearing out.
David's tenacity helped us to corner the Armadillo Solar guy and get some answers. The good news is that we have plenty of space on our roof for the PV panels, and the roof is even angled in the proper direction to capture the most sunlight (that's what we had tried to plan for). Plus, the panels just plain look cool.
For those of you in Austin, there is another Ball next month on the 22nd at the Tony Burger Center.
Since we figured we were too far from the Habitat Re-Store to go look for a dining room window, we hit SoCo instead.
We hit the Travis Heights neighborhood where both David and I lived at different times years ago. Wow, that neighborhood is undergoing a change. Even though I don't like the tone of the "McMansion" debate, I do see the rapid development that has a lot of people on edge. We drove past the Preston-Garcia mansion; does anyone know what is planned for this property?
We also snapped a pic of the carport we want. Looks simple enough (except for the rockin' storage in back with the sliding door). I wonder what it would cost or how long it would take to build it?
We then drove through the Penn Field parking lot where I took pics of the landscaping since Architerra was closed. Can anyone name the vines or grasses here? This is mainly what I'm thinking about when I think of the wrap-around deck--vines up the posts and some kind of grass or maybe rosemary and lavendar around the walkway underneath.
By the time we got to Opal Divine's for lunch, we were no longer hungry. We'd had too much eye candy.
Posted by Christiane at March 26, 2006 01:39 PM
Comments
That driveway with storage is eggcellent. I have just been driving around, and cruising your house, and trying to fantasize extended parking if we decided to buy our rental (on morrow). We need a good driveway with extended parking because street parking sucks. What a great idea. Oh, to talk the hub into buying in this wondrous neighborhood. Whoa, that's so wierd. I used to know the people who own the house you are inquiring about above. Must look into it. I know that the owner passed away and the property is owned by his girlfriend now. I'll get back to you.
Posted by: Joanna Fried at March 26, 2006 03:21 PM
Yeah, street parking does suck. It practically isn't an option on Grover. I mean, the street is certainly wide enough, but the traffic is insane. People drive 10 or more miles over the speed limit and come around that curve like crazy people. I was always sure that parking on the street was sudden death.
Posted by: Christiane at March 26, 2006 05:38 PM
I'm pretty sure that carpot was done by Furman Architects here in town, and was on the AIA homes tour last year. The whole house is pretty cool, esp. the backyard. Have you seen the carport on Woodrow attached to that blue house (across from the castle-ish one...)
Posted by: Mo - Brentwood neighbor at March 26, 2006 05:54 PM
The one on Woodrow is cantelevered, right? Pretty darn cool. We're gonna be pretty tapped when the house is done, so we need something simple and, well, cheap. The one on Mission Ridge doesn't *look* very complicated... but then again, I'm not offering to build it with a new baby on the hip ;-)
Posted by: Christiane at March 26, 2006 07:48 PM
What's the skinny on Panels for you guys? Is it looking like a viable option? We'd love to do it up here in the land of the sun FW, but dang it's expensive. Our monthly load in the Summer can be up to 3000 kWh - you can guess why - old leaky house. The cost of running enough Solar to replace 3000 kWh was something like $100k. Yikes.
Posted by: Chriz at March 30, 2006 12:07 PM
The City of Austin has a great rebate program based on $4.00/per watt. That's $12,000 off of a 3000kWh system. The guy at Armadillo quoted us about $20k for the whole system before the rebate. So, $8k, not $100k. Would pay for itself in 4-6 years. Faster if rates go up.
Posted by: David E. at March 30, 2006 05:12 PM
On the solar note, almost everyone I have talked to has stressed spending the money on making the entire home more energy efficient first. Added insulation, attic fans, low-e windows, solar screens, etc, etc. Otherwise, the money you spend on solar panels is really just leaking out your leaky house ;-)
Posted by: Christiane at March 30, 2006 05:45 PM
Hmmmm. $20k for a 3000kWh system? nice. I'll bet I'm looking at very dated comparison sites.
I think the costs of plugging up the leaks would actually be equivalent to just having 1/2 a new house built. But, if you guys get the solar installed, you will be my alt energy heroes.
Posted by: chriz at March 30, 2006 09:43 PM
Is this what you saw?
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/potw_tangerinecross.htm
Posted by: Katharina at April 6, 2006 10:34 AM
Wow, those are GORGEOUS. I don't know if that's what I saw, but that is definitely what I want. And I'm loving the built-in pest control ;-)
Posted by: Christiane at April 6, 2006 04:37 PM