Time lapse of the pool construction

I cleaned up the webcam data of the pool construction and created a time lapse of it.

Pool by:  Stone Creek Custom Pools,  Fort Worth Tx.

Dave Betts of Fort Worth Texas based Stone Creek Custom Pools started work with excavation back in Oct 2008 and completed it 5weeks later.  We gave him our ideas and rough drawings of what we were looking for. After some changes and touring 3 other pools to see what we wanted in the Grotto and possible slide we finally had a 3D plan ready.  After a  few short days waiting on the city permit we started digging which was less than a day.  All the contractors were very professional and one even worked over time to beat some approching rains.  Laurie had her 1st pool also done by Dave Betts back in 2005 which came out great so we already had a very comfortable feeling working with Dave and costs on this project.  On New Years day the pool was filled and with some chemicals to clear up water everything worked right from day 1.

1Megawatt Generated !!

In the last couple days, during weeks of cloudy days and spring rains, the sun broke between the clouds enough to push our solar pv system over 1 Megawatt of generated power!!!  The Xantrex system is reporting the the lifetime statistics – Energy produced is 1.022MWh and some 623.6lbs of CO2 Avoided in under 3 months time.  Altho nobody sees CO2 its more of the fact that we were that independant in generating our own power. Even on a fully cloudy day the system will produce 200-1000watts which is suprising.  So dont let anyone tell you that you need full sun and anything less gets you nothing.

Our local power provider, TXU on the other hand is still dragging along with any sort of billing package allow for the excess power that HAS been pushed back into the grid.  Each email and phone call for the last 2months comes back with, give us a couple more weeks.  Last month I change our daylight power loads to be the heaviest with the pool running during daylight hours as to not push to much excess back to the grid for now.

The landscaping has already been growing with the warmer days pushing 90 and all the rain.  The Geo-thermal A/C fills the underground reclamation tanks enough that we water half the lot in the mornings and by the evening the rest of the property.  Depending how the home reacts to the hot summer the tanks might fill even quicker but with the foam insulation we can already tell the house doesnt loose much to the outside elements.  By the end of next week I should also have a report back on the air-quality of the inside that our HVAC company is sampling with a small in home monitor.  We arent expecting anything suprising but we want to make sure the home has enough fresh air.

Moved In !

We moved in to the new home on Dec 12th-14th after we received our final inspection on Dec 10th with flying colors.  We still have a few loose ends to complete inside and out but with the holidays coming we wanted to be settled in.

The pool was completed on Friday the 19th with a blue color tint plaster then we used the well water to fill it. After 34 hours it was full.  A week later, the water is still murky from all the plaster dust and some high winds blowing local dirt into the water.  Acid and Shock were also added to help keep put the water in check but Im still waiting to see clear water.

Landscaping is next on our list. Our first bid came back for sprinkles, sod and plants.  Since its high priced were shopping it out now.

Waterfurnace geothermal units are working great with the cold temps we have had. Last week we dropped into the teens at night and only 28′ in the day. The home was very comfortable with a temp set at 69-70′  any higher was uncomfortable.  The units are quiet tho we do here the T-stats doing a double click prior to turning on a zone.  One unit can heat the area 1 degree in 4min.  Im about to install some power monitors on the blowers to log run times with my WelServer monitor. It doesn’t seem that they run to much and with the foam insulation were not loosing any heat due to drafts.

My next project is our 6Kw Solar PV system install. I did notice some shadows from the home next door so Ill have to see if its going to effect the system more than I’m willing to loose in power. The shadows are from  the low sun during the winter months and since Dec 21st just past this is a good time to see the worst effect.

I made some calls a week ago to our local electrical provider Oncor and asked about a upcoming Solar PV rebate thats going to release in 2009.  I was disappointed to hear the plan would require owners to have the systems professionally install from a list of approved solar installers by Oncor and no DIY.  I was told the plan should release Jan 1st 2009 but could be delayed.  The big problem with local solar installers is that there are only 3 in the north Texas area who are charging 50-100% markup so thats from lack of competition. Im going to try to work with Oncor and suggest they consider all the DIY owners who just need a little help with cost to start rolling out Solar PV.

TXU energy is another story on the other hand.  My first calls to the renewables dept were very encouraging and all tho they are also just getting the program in a draft form mostly because billings systems don’t allow for residential customers to ‘Produce Power’ they will work out the issues.  They don’t have pricing set yet as to what they will buy back my excess power, but in reading what other states are offering customers is anywhere from $.10- $.34 per Kw feed back into the grid.  I frankly would want a higher rate back to me if Oncor isn’t going to help offset my systems cost and I just might have to shop around more or hold out while prices are set if it comes down to it.  I know I’m not going to be producing a huge amount of excess but every little bit helps.

While talking with TXU it also seems they are very interested in our home as a solar PV site in that if they choose to work with us they will have some  actual real time data  that they can use for promotional use or in help with talking to the state to help pass more of these incentives or rebates with the state of Texas.

This is all new grounds for everyone. Tho California and other states are adopting solar for a few years now every state is still going to work differently plus Laurie and I are very open to helping others if its in a positive way that just makes good sense.

Some picture on move in day.

Pool update

Last Friday the gunite was shot in about 4hours. Finished depth is about 8.5 ft deep which will be good for diving off the grotto. Tile and stone work will take place this week and pool deck next.

Stone Creek Custom Pools - Fort Worth Tx.

Pool & Spa

On Friday Oct 31, 2008 we began digging for the pool & spa just off the back patio. Work started quickly with measurements, stakes and then excavation of the pool. The shallow end and spa are at the right end and the deep end and grotto are to the far left. We will have an 8 ft diameter tanning ledge about a foot deep plus an overflow edge from the spa in the shallow parts. The deeper end will have a rock grotto with a seat behind the water fall also which will support diving from the water fall edge. Weather is going to be good this week so we should have everything including gunite shot within 7 days. The pool deck will come after and colored plaster just before we move in around late Nov. We are very excited.

Paint, Pool & Solar?

Painting started up this weekend with a lot of workers. Already the trim has just about been completed plus the all wood cabinets were stained. The fumes were pretty strong so Pics will have to wait another day.

We painted the rough outline to the pool yesterday and the city approved it today. We will break ground on Friday with excavation then a bobcat will drill 4 piers to support it. If all goes well next week we should have all the plumbing, steel and gunite completed.

Solar, Last year I started really digging into costs of installing a solar PV – Electric system on a home. I ran into some depressing issues light the fact that Texas had dropped solar rebates state wide years ago and only residences in Austin were eligible for any rebate. Then when we started designing the home in Jan/Feb I looked into it again. Only a couple solar installers in North Texas could be found. The 1st I contacted didn’t really sound interested in doing it due to costs and the second took 2 weeks to get back to me each time I called for pricing or changes plus his costs were just expensive. I did know that we would realistically need about 6Kw to be reasonable with our needs and some to spare. In a nutshell we will have a few 2 Geothermal units and a water well pump for the HVAC needs, PCs for everyone plus another just watching the homes systems, Lighting, TVs and a Pool. I know with my current home Im using 1000Kw in the winter and up to 3Kw in the summer and thats without a pool. Yes the home is super insulated but it has its needs and we dont want a $600/mo power bill or more.

So after months of researching the Net for info I picked a Affordable-Solar out of New Mexico back in May. As time go closer and prices change plus the new Federal Tax break being changed in Oct 2008 for new systems coming online in 2009 we couldn’t wait any longer to place the order. Over the next few weeks I should start getting delivery of the parts and will self install 30 panels, Inverter and monitoring equipment. The homes electrician will oversee my work and do the heavy wiring to interconnect with Oncor Electric and there requirements. So far things tho complicated feel right. One thing were paying a little more for is the fact that its a Battery Backed Grid-Tied system meaning when the power grid fails I will still have power via sun or battery depending on my battery capacity. Normally Solar system that are just grid tied must shutdown in the event that grid power fails even if the sun is shining. We wont have that with this system.

So far I have just about finished my application to Oncor for and Interconnect and TXU Energy Renewables dept about issues that will be coming up and some that wont. Im looking forward to working closely with both companies if things are in my favor… especially pricing for electric service.

More to come.

HVAC – Electric

Rinehart Services began work late last week on the air ducts. Its a slow process partly due to the fact the home is custom and we cut back on the size of the home which took some places away for chases. A couple small areas in closets will be framed up to hide ducts from the basement up to the main floor and some floor vents might have to be carefully located but things should work out by the end of the week. I worked in the heat over the weekend myself cutting out a 3″ drain line that blocked us from getting into the basements rec room with AC duct. Spent another 2hrs relocating the pipe myself and will have the plumbers check my work and glue it back together if it looks good to them. The extreme weather in the Fort Worth area isnt helping either. The top floor was 109′ and the basement was 101′ by mid later afternoon. It was nice to see the future wine cellar which is encased in concrete was only 88′. Im really feeling once the home is completed the basement will be very easy to control room temperatures without a lot of effort.

Electrical, Dean and I met a second time with Larry Foil who is the manager for M M Electrical Contractors Inc. last Friday. We talked about the plan and my request for installing sub panels in the basement and pool pump room. It looks like were going to bring in 400 amp service and supply the panels with 200 amps each.

Im having them install dedicated sub panels in the basement (pool pump room & main living) will mostly help with having the breakers local and not having to run upstairs for any electrical issues. Larry’s crew should show up later this week and wire up the main and top floors. I will wire up the basement myself mostly to save a little money and because I enjoy it. They will check my work before inspection.

Solar Power System, We are still looking at installing a 6KW Solar electric system on the south side of the home with the ability to expand its capacity at a later date. Texas took away our rebates some years ago, Im blaming the coal and natural gas sectors for that one, but were going to do it aways. Since nobody really installed solar electric in North Texas due to lack of interest and also the one of two quotes I got back was over $55K I’m going to do it myself for much less and have the electrician do the final connect. So far I have a good quote for the 6KW system with a battery option quoted and pending any other discounts I will list there name on the homes web site soon.