Since my last post, Steve and I have been learning more about the energy features of our Plus Haus. When we signed out initial contract, we purchased a KNX starter package to control our blinds and lighting efficiently and remotely. We were aware at that time that the blinds would adjust automatically to a weather monitor mounted on the roof of our home. Since then we have learned more about our

Suntracer KNX-GPS Weather Station

The device has been installed on our roof above the solar array and looks like this:

It's smaller than we thought measuring only 96 x 77 x 118 mm and weighing approximately 170 g.

It measures temperature, wind speed and brightness. It perceives precipitation and receives a GPS signal for time and position. The exact position of the sun (azimuth and elevation) is calculated on the basis of location coordinates and time. The data is used for the control of switching outputs for our shutters depending on preset threshold values. For example, right now, according to Stephan Koschnitzke at redblue energy GmbH&Co.KG, the wind setting is fixed at a windspeed from about 17 m/s. After the speed is under the level, the blinds are blocked for another 5 minutes, then they go back to the last position.

From the KNX website (http://www.elsner-elektronik.de/klima-haus.html?&L=1): The automatic control of shading and ventilation has long been standard in public and commercial buildings. This type of building automation is becoming increasingly important for residential buildings as well. This amounts to a very smart house.

Speaking of climate control, since my last post we have also been successful with net metering via West Penn Power (First Energy). Last weekend, Steve seredipitiously ran into a West Penn service technician who was looking for our well-hidden home. Together they hiked up our 0.28 mile long steeply graded limestone drive way and the techician installed the type of meter that monitors the kilowatt-hours we are returning to the grid starting from zero:

Right now, we are working on establish remote monitoring of our PV system output using our Sunny WEBBOX with Bluetooth technology:

We haven't been able to get the web box to talk to our SMA inverters. Any comments/suggestions from readers would be welcome!

We are also waiting to hear from hager (http://www.hagerco.com/) about the possibility of getting a US version of the iPad or Android app for the Domovea server to monitor our home both locally and remotely, as opposed to relying on the web-based application, although I am pleased with the speed of our DSL connection from Century Link (we have FiOS in Maryland).

The snow has prevented delivery of our sinks and our home furnishings which will be coming from Room & Board (http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/).