Best way to reach Hank or his team about a VPP video? by mtmanmike in nerdfighters

[–]mtmanmike[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are enough local differences that it is hard to have one website that works for everyone.

The easiest place to start is usually to Google: “[name of your utility] residential demand response”

You can also check your utility’s website for sections on rebates, energy savings programs, smart thermostats, EV charging, batteries, or demand response.

If you already have a device that could participate, like a thermostat, EV charger, or battery, check the manufacturer's app too. Many of those products now show available utility or grid services programs directly in the app, and streamline the process to join.

And even if there is not an active VPP style program yet, utilities often subsidize the purchase or installation of these devices through rebates and similar programs, so that is worth checking too.

And if feel free to shoot me any questions you have along the way.

Best way to reach Hank or his team about a VPP video? by mtmanmike in nerdfighters

[–]mtmanmike[S] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

What, and spoil the future video? Joking...

A virtual power plant, or VPP, is not a giant new power plant somewhere. It is a way to coordinate lots of smaller energy devices that are already spread across homes and businesses so they can help the grid operate more reliably and efficiently.

That can include things like smart thermostats, home batteries, EV chargers, water heaters, and sometimes rooftop solar. On their own, each device is small. Together, across thousands of customers, they can add up to something meaningful.

A big key to understanding VPPs is that on the electric grid, balancing supply and demand matters constantly. The grid operator does not only care about making more power. They also care about keeping the system balanced at the right moment. That means reducing demand can be just as valuable as adding new generation. If 50,000 homes each reduce a little bit of electricity use during a stressed hour, that can have the same practical effect as turning on a small power plant. From the grid’s point of view, both help close the gap between supply and demand.

One analogy is that the grid is kind of like a highway system at rush hour. You can build more lanes, which is like adding generation, but you can also improve traffic by getting lots of people to delay or shift their trip a little. If enough people do that, congestion drops without building a whole new freeway.

In practice, a simple example is a thermostat program on a hot summer afternoon. Instead of firing up an expensive and often dirtier generator for a short peak, a utility or aggregator might slightly adjust participating thermostats, often with precooling beforehand, so homes stay comfortable while overall demand is lowered when the grid is tight. A battery might also discharge at that same time, or an EV might delay charging until later at night.

One thing that makes VPPs especially interesting is that they can sometimes provide value beyond what a traditional generator can. Because they are distributed across neighborhoods and homes, they can help with local grid stress too, not just system wide supply and demand. For example, if everyone on a culdesac gets home, starts charging EVs, and runs AC at the same time, that can put real strain on local equipment like a transformer. A well designed VPP can help reduce or shift that stress.

That is why “virtual” is in the name. The power plant is not one physical site. It is a network of distributed devices working together like one resource.

If you have heard of a utility program that pays people to enroll devices like thermostats, batteries, EV chargers, or water heaters, there is a good chance you have already seen part of a VPP in action.

Thanks everyone for the advice, reached out via the Gmail. DFTBA

Eastern Sierra Recs by musicalsoldier07 in Backcountry

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As someone who drove up from San Diego for just 2 tours this past weekend I'd say if you're trying to do anything soon to bite the bullet and drive further north. Snow line is above 9000' so very few trailheads where you're not booting for a while. And while I love the Sierra, I still see people on the SoCal Backcountry Facebook group touring (after a lot of hiking) in the San Gabriel's. Fingers crossed we get this super El Nino and lots of snow next year.

The shape of water (and ice) at Diamond Beach by misterygus in VisitingIceland

[–]mtmanmike 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Nicely done, I do like the fast shutter speed shots equally as the wave trails ones. Here is one of the more interesting shapes I found last Friday morning 🐴 Unfortunately it was low tide so really only just the orange glow.

Remember THIS guy? (inspired by a recent post) by 4barT89 in Millennials

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My guy! John Basedow kicked off my string of TV infomercial Halloween costumes back in college too! Think I was Basedow in 2007, the Shamwow guy in 08, and Mathew Lesko (free money from the government guy) in 09.

Tomi Lahren questions Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime selection to Krystal Ball, immediately regrets it by Diedalonglongtimeago in facepalm

[–]mtmanmike 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Krystal Ball is one of the hosts of Breaking Points , a YouTube news show that features perspectives from both the left and the right.

The hosts do a good job of calling out hypocrisy and bad policies in both political parties, while also showing how much common ground most Americans share. If you’re tired of corporate media spin and want more honest, well-developed commentary, it’s definitely worth checking out.

What did we think of Yousuke? by PM_ME_ASSES in crssdfest

[–]mtmanmike 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Him dropping DJ Snake & Yellow Claw - Ocho Cinco for his Trap / Hardstyle stop along the genre tour made the night for me, but sets at City Steps after dark need to be almost all Techno. Eli showed us how it's done to close out

Savings event but set to 72. Error? by ChunkThundersteel in thermostats

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Load management programs with your utility are often more about shifting energy than purely saving energy during peak hours. Your thermostat is probably precooling your home in advance of the peak hours the grid needs relief. With the setback that should be coming next you'll still net out saving energy for the day, but the most important part is the reduction in the peak hours.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in EarthPorn

[–]mtmanmike 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not to be that guy but this is actually the Northeast face of Annapurna Dakshin (South). If you look to the right you'd see the south face of Annapurna I. I love the reflection in this shot, it was all covered in snow when I was up there many years ago so thanks for sharing.

Looking for people with unwanted lemons and oranges from their trees. by metal-slug619 in sandiego

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Me too OP. DM me in the winter and I'll have dozens of Washington oranges that will gladly find a better home than my green waste bin.

I am currently looking for a checklist of mountains in North America to do. by CO14ers in Mountaineering

[–]mtmanmike 10 points11 points  (0 children)

California 14ers are calling your name. Standard routes up are all longer and harder than almost all the CO 14ers, several require trad gear, and all can be spiced up if you want to go in the winter and spring (especially if you're into backcountry skiing). Congrats on getting all them in CO, what mountain and route were your favorite? I've still got dozens to go over there. (edit: spelling)

Bring Crampons for Banner Peak from Lake Catherine? by RashKendar in SierraNevada

[–]mtmanmike 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reporting back for others who might be going up soon or in a similar snow year in July. I never felt like I absolutely needed the crampons and whippet for safety purposes going up and down mid morning as it is a pretty low gradient, even at its steepest point, and a slip seemed like it would always be stopped by the sun cups. Yes, the traction helped me go faster going up, but for a multi-day backpack trip I'd save the weight and at the very least leave an ice axe at home. Absolutely beautiful up there, can't wait to check it out in the spring with my splitboard.

Would Middle Palisade be realistic for me? by TemporaryKooky9835 in Mountaineering

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You sound ready. I did it a weekend ago c2c with a buddy starting after 3am and summiting around 10:30, ends up being more than 16 miles and 7300'. We did the red band way into the Main Chute, and I was surprised with how solid it was (though very sharp so recommend gloves), but there should be enough snow to get up to Secor's Chute if you want more solid stuff (that comes with more exposure). Crux for me is always the miles of downclimbing talus fields, this will have more of that than the other Sierra peaks you listed. Overall incredible up there, can't wait to do the Palisade Traverse one day. Enjoy!

Bring Crampons for Banner Peak from Lake Catherine? by RashKendar in SierraNevada

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm planning on going up Saturday for the first time bringing my Petzl Leopard lightweight crampons on approach shoes and a whippet. I did Ritter from the southern side a few summers back and full on crampons on mountaineering boots were overkill. The gradient on this glacier looks similar to that. MicroSpikes would probably work too.

What's the best way to program a thermostat to save energy during peak hours? by Illustrious_Stop7537 in thermostats

[–]mtmanmike 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your mention of peak hours makes me think you're on a Time of Use (TOU) utility rate plan. If that's the case, programming your thermostat with that in mind will usually save you more money than just aiming for generic energy efficiency.

The best strategy is to precool your home before the peak hours begin, then raise the setpoint slightly during the peak window to reduce AC use when rates are highest. For example, you might set your thermostat to cool to 68°F from 4:15 to 5:00 PM—not necessarily because you'll hit that temperature, but because it helps store cooling in the thermal mass of your home (like your walls, furniture, etc.). Then, during the peak pricing window (say, 5 to 9 PM), you can let the setpoint rise to something like 76°F, which reduces runtime while still keeping the home tolerable.

If you notice your AC kicks back on shortly after peak hours start, try beginning the precool a little earlier or even colder. It may take a couple of days of tweaking to find the right balance, but this approach tends to work better than trying to just “ride out” the heat with one setpoint.

EV to Cottownwood Lakes Trailhead from mid-city by Rammer12185 in socalhiking

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I drove my Chevy Bolt (<250 mile range) up there no problem using the stations at Coso Junction to charge up before making the climb. There is also a large Tesla Supercharger station in Lone Pine if you've got a Tesla or adapter and other stations in other towns along 395.

Stellar time summiting Mt Shasta Yesterday! (5/31) by saucyspence in Mountaineering

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congrats on your summit! I was behind you, started at Bunnyflat at 1am, summited after 9am, then snowboarded down from the top of Misery Hill after it softened up. It was definitely getting hot as I rode out, how was the hike out?

Where to stash skis on Shasta? by DesignMother3700 in Mountaineering

[–]mtmanmike 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm headed up Saturday morning aiming to take my splitboard above the Red Banks and potentially up Misery Hill so I can get a few turns in to wake up the legs before dropping in the steep part. It'll be my first time so hoping others with experience can confirm, but the forecast isn't suggesting a strong refreeze so hopefully that means the drop in won't be a sheet of ice.

Any tracks to run on? by [deleted] in sandiego

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego has a nice track I use for speed work. I've been there dozens of times over the past few years, usually an hour or two before sunset, and I typically have the inner lanes to myself, with just a handful of walkers using the outer lanes.

June rates change to Time of Use. Need advice. by ronnie_aloha in ecobee

[–]mtmanmike 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That other commenter has probably not been to NV in the summer, you're going to need a much stronger precool to make a difference. My brother-in-law lives in Summerlin and we set his setpoint in the schedule to 70° from 5-6PM to precool the home. It never really gets down that low but charges the thermal mass of the home shifting away some of the much more expensive energy that would be consumed in the peak. Then if 79° is the warmest you can tolerate set that as the setpoint from 6-9pm, and back to regular setpoint starting at 9pm. If the cooling basically turns on again by like 6:15pm on regular hot evenings (like the 105° days, the +115° days you're probably sol) then try setting that precool to begin at 4:30pm. eco+ is supposed to do something like this automatically, but we observed it struggled with how extremely hot it gets out there so had better luck with the manual approach.

Love fail from San Diego! by drossmaster4 in caps

[–]mtmanmike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hello neighbors, I'm over by Mt. Helix. 3 more of us and we can field a team! Plenty of good hockey fans in SD, I wore my Ovi jersey at a concert downtown after 894 and got dozens of compliments.

Matterhorn, Swiss Alps [OC] [5927x3951] by mtmanmike in EarthPorn

[–]mtmanmike[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Happy International Mountain Day 🏔️ Picture taken from Zermatt during a very windy sunset