Want to get off the grid? You are not alone. Getting off the grid and even becoming energy independent has lots of benefits. This means no more regular monthly power bills, no more reliance on depleting fossil fuels, and no more power shutdowns due to an overworked grid system. Before you get off the grid, however, you must do two significant things. You ought to figure out how much electricity you need, and you also need to pick the best method to produce that energy.
Performing an Energy Review
Prior to going off the grid you must work out how much electricity you're currently using. To begin this, examine your power bills. Be sure you check usage for every single month of the year, paying particular attention to the summer and winter months. The last thing you want to do is go off the grid and then fail to produce enough power to get you through the chilled wintertime.
Once you know the quantity of electrical power you presently use, figure out methods to decrease your consumption. Is your home well insulated? Do you take advantage of energy efficient devices? Have you got energy efficient habits, including unplugging appliances which are not in use? Take a moment together with your family members and brainstorm ideas about how you, as a group, can reduce your energy usage. Then put those creative ideas into action. Live for a couple of months with your innovative energy plan, reviewing your power bills as you go along. After that make use of those comparisons figure out just how much electricity you will have to produce whenever you go off the grid. With this answer, you'll then be all set to select another source of power.
Selecting a Power Source
After you get off the grid, you'll be producing your own energy with solar energy panels, a turbine, or, ideally, a combination of both. We will first of all have a look at solar power systems.
Solar Panels
What's needed for solar power panels really are uncomplicated. If you can view and feel the rays of the sun, you may use solar power panels. To get best results, have your solar panel systems facing the south. Mount them so that they soak up the sun's rays at a 30-degree angle. Furthermore, solar panels are fragile, so you must install them in a very safe location. A lot of people install these products on their roofs. To find out the number of solar power panels you'll need, use the information from your energy audit and your solar panel manufacturer's output specifications. Should you be a DO-IT-YOURSELF type of person, give some thought to constructing your own solar panels. You will save yourself thousands of dollars by doing the work on your own.
Wind Turbines
To use a windmill you have got to be in an appropriate place. Most of all, you need to be in a place that receives regular winds. Should large structures or woods encircle your home, a wind generator might not be the best choice for your needs. If this is the case, and you nevertheless desire to use a wind generator, understand that the smoothest, most constant winds are going to be thirty feet higher than any close by buildings. Well before purchasing or building a windmill, buy a wind meter and record the wind speeds at your location. Ideally, you would want to get readings in every one of the four seasons. Also, consult your regional government to find out if there are any limitations or permits you ought to be concerned about. As with solar panels, look into building your own windmill. This will save you a lot of cash.
Wind and solar power Combination
Many people who go off the grid work with a mixture of wind and solar power. Using solar panels and a wind turbine gives you enable you to produce electricity Round the clock as well as in virtually all natural conditions. If you are serious about getting off the grid and enjoying energy independence, I recommend that you make use of both wind and solar energy.
Performing an Energy Review
Prior to going off the grid you must work out how much electricity you're currently using. To begin this, examine your power bills. Be sure you check usage for every single month of the year, paying particular attention to the summer and winter months. The last thing you want to do is go off the grid and then fail to produce enough power to get you through the chilled wintertime.
Once you know the quantity of electrical power you presently use, figure out methods to decrease your consumption. Is your home well insulated? Do you take advantage of energy efficient devices? Have you got energy efficient habits, including unplugging appliances which are not in use? Take a moment together with your family members and brainstorm ideas about how you, as a group, can reduce your energy usage. Then put those creative ideas into action. Live for a couple of months with your innovative energy plan, reviewing your power bills as you go along. After that make use of those comparisons figure out just how much electricity you will have to produce whenever you go off the grid. With this answer, you'll then be all set to select another source of power.
Selecting a Power Source
After you get off the grid, you'll be producing your own energy with solar energy panels, a turbine, or, ideally, a combination of both. We will first of all have a look at solar power systems.
Solar Panels
What's needed for solar power panels really are uncomplicated. If you can view and feel the rays of the sun, you may use solar power panels. To get best results, have your solar panel systems facing the south. Mount them so that they soak up the sun's rays at a 30-degree angle. Furthermore, solar panels are fragile, so you must install them in a very safe location. A lot of people install these products on their roofs. To find out the number of solar power panels you'll need, use the information from your energy audit and your solar panel manufacturer's output specifications. Should you be a DO-IT-YOURSELF type of person, give some thought to constructing your own solar panels. You will save yourself thousands of dollars by doing the work on your own.
Wind Turbines
To use a windmill you have got to be in an appropriate place. Most of all, you need to be in a place that receives regular winds. Should large structures or woods encircle your home, a wind generator might not be the best choice for your needs. If this is the case, and you nevertheless desire to use a wind generator, understand that the smoothest, most constant winds are going to be thirty feet higher than any close by buildings. Well before purchasing or building a windmill, buy a wind meter and record the wind speeds at your location. Ideally, you would want to get readings in every one of the four seasons. Also, consult your regional government to find out if there are any limitations or permits you ought to be concerned about. As with solar panels, look into building your own windmill. This will save you a lot of cash.
Wind and solar power Combination
Many people who go off the grid work with a mixture of wind and solar power. Using solar panels and a wind turbine gives you enable you to produce electricity Round the clock as well as in virtually all natural conditions. If you are serious about getting off the grid and enjoying energy independence, I recommend that you make use of both wind and solar energy.
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