Agreed on all counts CurlyGirl! For me, the thing that appeals most about the GH is the uber-efficiency of growing our own food right here at home. Everything we do is geared toward maximizing food without a major energy outlay. To me, personally, heating a GH all winter defeats the purpose of being efficient so I've never been interested in that pathway. I can see why folks do it, so I'm not passing judgement, but it's not for us. Yes, we do have our GH already, a Riga in Zone 4 Montana. We get by with a nicely insulated foundation, stacks of 5 gallon water buckets for thermal mass, and a predominance of sunshine in the winter. I also make a hoophouse within the greenhouse using metal hoops and many layers of fleecy frost blankets. This has allowed us to keep lettuce alive even in this cold winter. (Although I brought most of the lettuce inside during our recent dip to -27, but amazingly, even the lettuce left in the GH survived just fine.) The next thing I'd like to do efficiency-wise is vent excess GH heat into the house in the winter. So often the roof vents are open and perfectly good 85-degree air is venting to the atmosphere. I would love to have that warmth coming into the house instead. So I'd like to figure out a way to do that before next winter. What kind of fruit trees are you getting? How exciting!

I fill my tank about every three mows (3 gal), and I have about 2/3 acre of actual grass to mow. So I guess it costs me about $3.50 per mow. Gas could be $10 a gallon and I'd still mow twice a week. Between tilling, grading, sodding, rolling, and fertilizing, aerating and thatching, I put a lot of money and effort into that lawn and I don't intend to neglect it when it comes to keeping it the proper length. I refuse to let gas prices alter my lifestyle. Since my wife stays home with the kids and I drive 25 minutes each way to work, it would make sense to leave the GMC in the garage and drive the VW to work, rather than the other way around. But I never claimed to have any sense. I guess I'm just a whipper-snapper here in this forum, but when I was old enough to mow but too young to work--1984 to 1989--I'd charge my grandfathers' friends $10 to mow yards which were less than 1/4 acre (pushed, no trimming, their mower). Gas was around a dollar then. Twenty years later, my neighbor's kid charges the other neighbor $20 to mow a 1/2 acre lawn (basically the same rate). And his parents even thought that was a bit steep. So even though fuel has tripled in price as of late, it wasn't until recently that inflation really started to affect so many other things. But I wouldn't say a homeowners' lawn-mowing frequency is one of them. Here is a link that might be useful: gas price index

Go do a google search for yourself on "capacitor upside down". Maybe you'll learn something. http://www.ronstultz.com/knowledge/Documents/HVAC/HVAC%20-%20How%20to%20Replace%20the%20Run%20Capacitor%20in%20the%20Compressor%20Unit.htm Speaking of "normal"... https://www.doityourself.com/forum/air-conditioning-cooling-systems/496422-capacitor-condenser-unit.html As I said, I got this tip from an old, retired HVAC pro who now runs a business supplying the HVAC industry in Sacramento. Seeing others mention that they found them upside down or asking about it makes me believe there is probably something to it. It's not that they fail if not installed upside down, it's that upside down will lengthen the life, especially in very hot climates like Ca. and Az. Your argument about manufacturers is mute/pointless. They make their product so that it can be installed either way or horizontal. It's up to you which way you think is best. I decided to rely on a retired HVAC pro with many years of experience who supplies the local HVAC industry. I'd bet on that.

Hey G!! sorry to hear about your knee..but glad you are on the mend. I think we got your summer...it was a hot one, but I prefer heat to cold, last winter...was pure hell for me. I've always been allergic, but like wasp stings the poison ivy reaction seems to get worse as I age. I swear all I have to do is look at it wrong..and it includes sumac, poison oak & just about every thing with leaves of three & red stems. being a yardie (new to me term for yard junkie) and living in the woods fighting these things is a neverending job. I must have gotten hold of some roots in one of the flower beds. and with our crazy weather last winter...I even got it in feburary. so whats the deal with the roof? doing a cool roof or something complex? or just having trouble with weather cooperating? sounds like you have perfect weather to get it done this weekend...just be careful up there! do you still have those wonderfully explained igu windows 101 posts from the building forum? I'd like to share them on another forum...maybe in general discussion part of the site as other areas are locked to the publc. I'd really like to get them into the building science forum...but its only for pro members...you wouldn't have an epa card by any chance?? anyway let me know. and again...great to hear from you. take care.