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After the stack has taken what it needs there are 35 solar panels left on the barn roof. Excess heat is used to heat the upper floor, given that it is well-insulated it needs no additional heating. Problem, solved.


Only if you can’t sell the excess power.


Selling that excess power is possible, as is buying some extra panels - there is enough space for at least 36 more on just that single roof. For now I choose to add panels - and batteries in the not too distant future, once the market is flooded with used EV-batteries - and continue on my course of decentralising the 'net using 'old' hardware - not a single new product is used in any of my computing endeavours. Most of it is either dumpster-dived and repaired, bought 2nd hand or acquired through places like Freecycle.


I also like recycling electronics but some stuff is just not worth keeping powered on. If you can sell electricity back then your switch has an opportunity cost of (assuming 11¢/KWh, which is US avg for 2021 and 5W idle for the replacement switch) ≈45 USD/year, which is almost 90% of its value.




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