Walls, the Office, and Solar

Posted on January 30, 2011 by admin1

This week the crew split in two with one group starting work on the walls of the master side of the house while the other worked on footings/walls for the office slab. I worked on finding the right solar guy and finding an AC installer. These guys need to do a tiny bit of work in or I have AC units picked out and have an idea of what I want to do with solar. The plan is to do a 2-3KW solar panel system in addition to installing a solar hot water system. We also plan on putting up a wind turbine, but that may come later on. We considered doing just a wind turbine but have broadened our plans a bit. When we moved to St. Croix in 2008 electric cost us 52 cents a KW, roughly four times what we were paying in Dallas and about five times what my family in Pennsylvania were paying. Thanks to the price of oil dropping considerably since then our rate currently sits at 36 cents a KW. In any case we figured that producing some of our own electric was one way to fight the rising cost of electricity since it doesn’t appear that WAPA (Water and Power Authority) will be fixing things by harnessing alternative energy themselves in the near future. For those interested, the three solar companies I have spoken too this week are Solar Delivered, West Indies Solair, and VI Solar Depot. No decision has been made yet.

Office Footings 1/25/2011

Office Footings 1/27/2011

Master Walls - 1/27/2011

Progress - 1/28/2011

Slab Pour

Posted on January 23, 2011 by admin1

The week was spent preparing to pour the slab for the master side of the house and the guest bedroom. Both the plumber and electrician had their crews there on Friday. Saturday morning was the pour (23 more yards).

Slab Pour 1-22-2011

Slab Pre-Pour 1-22-2011

Slab Pour 1-22-2011

Slab Pour 1-22-2011 Guest Bedroom

Our contractor John Hebert

Slab Pour 1-22-2011

Large Cistern Wall Pour

Posted on January 15, 2011 by admin1

Another productive week. The large cistern walls were poured on Thursday afternoon (34 yards of concrete). We probably went a little overboard with the size of the cisterns because if they ever fill up we shouldn’t need water for years. 48,000 gallons is not a small amount of water. The small cistern ceiling is ready to pour as well, but we are awaiting electrical permits so the electrician can do his thing prior to pouring. The guys have worked each of the last two Saturdays, but will lose a day on Monday because of MLK day. Onward we go.

1-10-2011 - Preparing the large cistern wall forms

1-12-2011 - Large cister wall forms are ready

1-12-2011 - Large cistern wall forms are ready

1-12-2011 - Gooch

1-13-2011 - The Pour

1-15-2011 - The forms are coming off

2011 St. Croix Carnival Parade

Posted on January 15, 2011 by admin1

The 2011 St. Croix Carnival Parade? (aka St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival Adult Parade) took place last Saturday (January 8th). This was our third parade and each year we have a great time. The new barriers to keep spectators off the street was a bit of a drag, but it didn’t slow the beers down.

2011 St. Croix USVI Carnival Parade

Large Cistern Slab Pour

Posted on January 7, 2011 by admin1

In light rain on Wednesday morning the cistern slab was poured (26 yards). This is what is basically the lower level of the house. It consists of the electrical room and two compartments of the larger 30K+ gallon cistern. Thursday was spent starting to get the forms for the cistern walls up as well as getting the forms in place for the smaller cistern’s ceiling.