DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

Our photovoltaic array has five racks of solar panels. Due to the presence of nearby trees, the chimney and exhaust fans on the roof, and even more importantly to the fact that the most open roof space faces east rather than southwest, the panels were difficult to fit, given the design goal of maximizing exposure to the south/southwest sun.

There’s a problem: production is below projections. I think the core problem is that the projections are incorrect, but I’m eager to increase production if possible. The more power we generate, the sooner my PV system pays for itself. (This is a purely virtual goal — my out-of-pocket costs for energy are going to be very low for the next 30 years, regardless of when we cross the breakeven point.)

We had the panels inspected. They passed; the technician found no evidence that any of the panels were failing. Kudos to our installer for providing this check-up for free.

But a more sinister problem apparently exists: by mid- to late afternoon, our panels are creating their own shade. We knew we’d lose some afternoon sun due to tree cover, but this picture shows a much worse problem — really, a design flaw.

Photovoltaic arrays in California should be designed to maximize production during peak periods: 12:00PM - 6:00PM. The picture here was taken shortly after 5:00PM, indicating that we’re losing generation capacity during peak hours. Of course the amount of shadow depends on the height of the sun in the sky; still, any shadow during peak hours is a bad thing.

Research indicates that even a small shadow can cause a huge drop in generation performance:

Even partial shading of crystalline solar panels will result in dramatic reduction of solar panel output. One completely shaded cell can reduce a solar panel’s output by as much as 75%. Three cells shaded can decrease 93% of the panel’s output.

I think there’s a relatively easy way to move the last rack of panels out of shadow, by raising its standoffs. But the larger rack in the foreground of the picture will be harder to reposition. I’m hoping my installer has some suggestions.

What’s surprising about all this is that our PV installer ran numerous “shade studies” to illustrate the shadow of the chimney and the other panels throughout the year. They designed the racks to prevent exactly this problem.

The new ~8 m.p.g. International CXT monster-pickup is an insult to anybody with lungs. You have to figure that people needing to tow 40' trailers should own the tractor already; seen in this light it becomes clear that the typical CXT customer won’t have utility in mind. The only enormous load he’ll have to tow is his own ego.

Fortunately, I thought, I’ll never actually see one on the road in California. CA has adopted stricter vehicle-emissions standards than are mandated by the feds. (Five states in all have adopted these “CARB” standards: CA, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine.)

Finding a concise statement of the actual regulation has proven impossible, but I can say for certain what one result is: I cannot buy a new diesel Volkswagon in California until 2006. I can’t buy one out of state and bring it here, either (although there might be a workaround).

What’s magic about the year 2006? Cleaner diesel fuels will be universally available then. New low-sulfur formulations will allow auto makers to equip diesel vehicles with better emissions-control devices, but until such fuels are widely available, current diesel vehicles don’t meet the 2004 emission standards — using standard pump diesel, anyway.

But I can burn cleaner diesel today. In fact, that was my plan: put a biodiesel tank in the yard and have the fuel delivered monthly (because it’s not otherwise available locally). Biodiesel is one of the cleanest-burning liquid fuels on the market and is significantly cleaner than either regular diesel or gasoline. And, as a non-petroleum fuel, it’s renewable. We needn’t drill through wildlife refuges for it. We needn’t risk spilling it from ocean-bound tankers. We needn’t export billions of dollars per day to the Middle East to secure supplies of it. We can grow it ourselves.

The ARB, understandably, doesn’t care if a few green individuals might take personal responsibility for their own vehicles. Managing such exceptions would be impossible.

But you’d think that if a ~40 m.p.g. VW can’t pass CARB rules, a monster truck wouldn’t have a prayer. As it turns out, it doesn’t need to. The CXT is exempt.

Let’s recap:

If I’m understanding this correctly, this is the ultimate stupidity of the current regulations: exceptions for ultra-heavy vehicles have to be made so that over-the-road trucks and construction vehicles can stay in operation. But this loophole essentially rewards vehicle makers for marketing huge trucks as passenger vehicles. The bigger the truck, the fewer emissions rules apply.

The FTC is considering a reward program to help turn spammers’ business associates into snitches: FTC Assesses Reward System for Catching Spammers

The text of the report is here: A CAN-SPAM Informant Reward System [PDF]

I envisioned rewarding revenge-minded spam victims, but the report states that such “cybersleuths” would be much less likely to generate admissible evidence than insiders. But I bet there are some enterprising spam victims out there who would be more than willing to take a few risks for such a reward.

In any case, the great thing about this idea is that (unlike CAN-SPAM) it might actually work.

Seen at kottke… a passenger truck that dwarfs the Earth-crushing Hummer H2.

“You can put the Hummer in back and take it with you,” quips Nick Matich, vice president at International Truck and Engine. “Or, you could just set fire to the nearest refinery; the emissions are comparable,” he didn’t add.

The most amazing statistic I can find about the vehicle is not its mileage rating, which does not appear in the specifications document but seems sure to be in the single-digits. It’s the vehicle’s weight: 14,500 lbs. This truck should come with a length of garden hose, so owners can rinse off the residue after accidentally flattening a Prius in traffic.

California truck buyers can have faith that their government is working for them; with a curb weight nearly 5x bigger than a typical station wagon, the CXT is exempt from CARB vehicle-emissions rules that would otherwise prevent its sale.

The Hummer and H2 showed us that a fancy leather interior can make a military personnel carrier marketable to American car buyers. The CXT, assuming it succeeds, shows us that a fancy leather interior can make a diesel tractor marketable to American car buyers. What’s next? What other utility vehicles are due for a respray, bucket seats, and cupholders?

Our suggestions follow.

With a capacity of 35 tons, the International 5600i dump truck meets or exceeds all your personal hauling needs; e.g., you could put two CXTs in back and “take them with you,” but not to the Earth First! meeting.

Don’t let the 5600i’s relatively small size fool you. It’s true that it weighs only a few hundred pounds more than the CXT, but look at the size of the bed — Costco, here you come!

This truck will tell all your neighbors you mean business. No, not that business.

The Caterpillar 845G large-duty wheel dozer can really cut through traffic, not to mention hillsides. Designed as a sporty one-seater, it has enough storage capacity for a tin lunchbox, you know, the kind with the thermos under the lid. On weekends, you can unleash the 854G on your favorite off-road trail, because then the pavers can come by and they’ll have a nice smooth base to work from.

With 800 horsepower and 3111 foot-lbs of torque on tap, the 845G can military-press your neighbor’s SUV (and his garage). Meanwhile, you’ll enjoy an unobstructed view while enthroned on the the air-suspension seat, wrapped in the comfort of the luxurious operator’s compartment which meets all SAE and ISO standards.

The Liebherr T282B is the largest truck in the world. It stands 24 feet tall, weighs 224 tons, and has a hauling capacity of 55 CXTs, or 44,000 cases of Pabst, with room left over for the entire International Truck marketing department’s sense of responsibility for the health of the planet (inside the driver’s vest pocket).

The T282B comes outfitted not just with in-dash DVD, but an in-dash 50'' plasma television to keep you entertained on those long hauls to the coal mine. The interior also sports a SubZero refrigerator, Viking gas range with griddle companion, foosball, pool table, California King-size waterbed, guest house, and private 9-hole golf course. Exterior finish options include three shades of Safety Yellow (pinstripes extra).

In case that new toilet fails in its claim to “handle whatever life throws your way,” REI’s got your back.