Sandy: We were lashed with 50+ mph winds and inches of rain, but our home remained tight and snug. While many areas along the Maine coast lost power, we were fortunate that the gird stayed 'on' - however, our backup system was ready to take over if needed. Our home is so well built that we don't hear or feel the wind until it reaches at least 30 mph.

PV Output: We generated 278 kWhrs of power in October - below normal due to extensive cloudiness. This brings us to 3,739 kWhrs for the year with two months to go. We should generate more than our annual goal of 4,000 kWhrs.

Plugin Prius: My new Plugin Prius is doing amazingly well. This shot, taken on October 31st, is no Halloween joke - 112 mpg average for the first three months of my lease. Admittedly, I use the car primarily within a 12 mile radius, but even the hybrid mode (coming 'on' as it does on longer trips) produces a satisfying result of 55+ mpg and the engine remains 'off' for the first 13 miles. I am totally pleased!