Three Pines uses solar photovoltaics to produce electricity. Fourteen 120-watt (24 volt - 1.68KW) panels are located on the south-facing roof of the main house. Excess electricity is stored in 7 SimpliPhi lithium-iron-phosphate batteries located in the basement of the main house installed 2020. A 10 KW propane generator provides backup for the batteries and can charge the batteries and run the property all at the same time, when necessary. A fully charged battery bank provides 3-4 days of power without the sun. Sine wave inverters convert the stored DC power to AC. Some items in the house run on DC while most run on AC. Most of the light bulbs in the house are LED or fluorescent. Electrical devices which have phantom loads are connected to wall switches or outlet strips which are turned off when not in use.
Propane appliances are used wherever possible. Among our propane appliances are direct vent room heaters, water heater, stove, dryer, freezer, and backup generator. Otherwise, the most energy efficient appliances are used, such as the Sun Frost 24 volt DC refrigerator/freezer. Our computer monitor is a 15" LCD which uses about 15 watts when in use. We recently replaced our 27" tube television with a 32" LCD television which uses about 33% less power. Several non-electric appliances are also in use including coffee maker, waffle maker, vegetable chopper / grater, and toast maker (doesn't work so well).
Our Internet, Wi-Fi and television services use satellite technology. Since the switchover to digital communications, we use a standard cell phone for phone service. A roof mounted satellite dish provides us with TV and two-way Internet service.
With the house facing south, and a large percentage of the south facing walls covered with windows (33%) (triple pane, double low-E), passive solar heat gain contributes a large amount of warmth in the main house throughout the heating season. The guest rooms have individual, direct-vent, propane heaters.
A masonry heater, weighing 6 tons, is our primary active heat source during the heating months. A masonry heater uses centuries old principles of wood burning to create a very efficient (above 90%), clean burning wood stove. Direct vent propane room heaters provide backup heat, if needed.
A two panel, closed loop, anti-freeze charged, solar hot water system is boosted by a propane fired, on-demand water heater.
