Monthly Archives: September 2021

We Put 8 More Panels on the Roof!

We took the plunge and put 8 more panels on our roof! Looking at our anticipated use of electricity with our new systems and our ultimate dream of driving 2 electric cars, we decided to go for it and fill out our bottom row of panels now instead of waiting. They were installed over two days in September and went live on the 8th, right before the Great Reno Balloon Race. We couldn’t resist taking this photo from our neighbor’s second story window showing the panels with balloons floating in the background! Looking at the data from the SolarEdge inverter, it shows we are producing an average of about 60 kWh per day now vs. the 40 kWh we were generating before the new panels were installed (early September data). The newer panels are generating more power than their 2.5-year-old predecessors.

Cost of 8 Additional Solar Panels

  • $6,600 ($825 per panel, installed)
  • -$1716 Less 26% Federal Tax Rebate
  • =$4,884 Total Net Cost ($610 per panel, installed)

Another big thank you to Great Basin Solar for making this so easy! I called on a Monday and they were installed and operational 8 days later! You guys are amazing! (https://greatbasinsolar.com/)

We are excited to see how all of this year’s changes will affect our energy use vs. generation. Our ultimate goal is to produce enough electricity to power most of the systems in our home, two electric vehicles, and offset our limited natural gas use. Let’s see how we do! Next up is the installation of a new heat pump heater and air conditioning system. We are having some trouble with ordering the unit to go with our high efficiency Bryant natural gas heater. But we are hoping to have it in before winter. Luckily, our 22-year-old A/C condenser has made it through another hot Reno summer, giving us time to make this switch.

Four Years After My First Hip Replacement

X-ray 7-1-2021: Right hip replaced 9-20-17, Left hip replaced 5-16-18

On July 1st I saw Dr. Shukla and Davis for a checkup on “my girls” as I like to call them. I was relieved to hear that everything looks as good on the X-rays as it feels in my body. Dr. Shukla pointed out that my bones have grown in more around the implants and said, “They are now a part of you.” How comforting to hear him say that! I told them all the things I can do now, and we celebrated with hugs. I thanked them for bringing me BACK. They asked me to return in 3-4 years for another checkup.

I was planning to post this in July, but then got sidetracked by a very busy schedule. I think, in hindsight, that I was meant to post this now. By mid-July, Reno was inundated with smoke from the wildfires in California and I could no longer walk and hike outdoors. Not wanting to lose the gains I’d made in leg strength, I returned to the gym at St. Mary’s Center for Health & Fitness. I had not worked out on the floor in seven years, which is an odd thing for an old gym rat and health club owner to say. I guess I’d come to associate the experience with a lot of pain due to my failing hips.

What a difference! I’ve really increased my leg, glute, back and arm strength by returning to the use of Precor weight machines and 20 minutes on an elliptical trainer. I also warm up and cool down on the walking track (5 minutes each). I’ve found my hiking/walking is easier, my standing stamina is improved, and I can grip and lift things with greater ease. I feel more powerful and balanced in my body, and my posture has improved. My chronic neck and shoulder pain is gone! I’ve also noticed improvements in my cardiovascular fitness. I don’t huff and puff as much hiking and I recover faster. The areas where I found I was weakest from not doing this work was my rear deltoids, quadricep, gluteal and low back muscles.

Now every week I try to swim 2 days for 40 minutes, workout in the gym 2 days for an hour, take a 3-4 mile walk or hike on 1 or 2 days, and practice yoga and mat Pilates on 1 or 2 days. I also continue my morning Qigong/Tai Chi practice and teach 3 classes a month.

I credit this routine with bringing me fully back from two total hip replacements and a third surgery to remove a cable from around my right femur. I can easily do everything I want to do now with ease. When I look back at how disabled I was 4 years ago, it feels like a miracle. I am so grateful!