So you want to look into Solar.
I have been living off grid at my cottage since 1994.
I can tell you that there is no finer way to be than off-grid.
No inflated bills.
Nothing.
Where my cottage is located is in a remote area from power.
The power company wanted over $2,000 just to engineer a power solution to my cottage.
When I asked them what that meant, they told me it was basically an administration and design charge.
What I would receive was a blueprint and a high-level cost estimate to implement their design.
I told them to hold off and asked some more questions.
Bottom line was they would charge $50 a metre to run power cables to my cottage.
The closest power was over 1,000 metres away.
Simple math told me it would cost over $50,000 to have them run power to my cottage.
A little too pricey for me.
Back then, this neat little concept of solar power was starting up.
There was very little information available, but I knew that solar was the way to go.
I bought myself some deep cycle batteries and one solar panel.
The purpose was to charge the batteries for my boat.
I had no power at all for my cottage.
We had a hand pump attached to the kitchen sink.
We had a toilet in the bathroom, but you had to pour water down it to flush (better than an outhouse!).
Gradually, I added more solar and now, my cottage has full power ...
all off grid.
You do not have to start with a full-scale solar project.
I didn't.
I started small.
I have a 12v water pump that pumps water up 180 feet to a water tower.
This feeds the cottage water via gravity.
I have low wattage lights throughout the cottage and all outlets are 120 volts.
You would never know we are off-grid if you visited.
We enjoy all the luxuries of city power - without all bills though.
I can tell you, it was easy to do.
I recommend everyone do it.
I recommend you also do this, or at least a portion of this kind of setup to your home.
Especially for your lights.
Then, if the power goes out, you will be the only house around with power.
Solar is cheap.
It is quiet (unlike my noisy generator, cottage neighbours).
It is hassle free and anyone can do it.
It is virtually maintenance free.
If I had to do it all over again, I would save some money and make my own panels.
That way you will get a faster return on your money.
But, then again, that information did not exist back then.
I have been living off grid at my cottage since 1994.
I can tell you that there is no finer way to be than off-grid.
No inflated bills.
Nothing.
Where my cottage is located is in a remote area from power.
The power company wanted over $2,000 just to engineer a power solution to my cottage.
When I asked them what that meant, they told me it was basically an administration and design charge.
What I would receive was a blueprint and a high-level cost estimate to implement their design.
I told them to hold off and asked some more questions.
Bottom line was they would charge $50 a metre to run power cables to my cottage.
The closest power was over 1,000 metres away.
Simple math told me it would cost over $50,000 to have them run power to my cottage.
A little too pricey for me.
Back then, this neat little concept of solar power was starting up.
There was very little information available, but I knew that solar was the way to go.
I bought myself some deep cycle batteries and one solar panel.
The purpose was to charge the batteries for my boat.
I had no power at all for my cottage.
We had a hand pump attached to the kitchen sink.
We had a toilet in the bathroom, but you had to pour water down it to flush (better than an outhouse!).
Gradually, I added more solar and now, my cottage has full power ...
all off grid.
You do not have to start with a full-scale solar project.
I didn't.
I started small.
I have a 12v water pump that pumps water up 180 feet to a water tower.
This feeds the cottage water via gravity.
I have low wattage lights throughout the cottage and all outlets are 120 volts.
You would never know we are off-grid if you visited.
We enjoy all the luxuries of city power - without all bills though.
I can tell you, it was easy to do.
I recommend everyone do it.
I recommend you also do this, or at least a portion of this kind of setup to your home.
Especially for your lights.
Then, if the power goes out, you will be the only house around with power.
Solar is cheap.
It is quiet (unlike my noisy generator, cottage neighbours).
It is hassle free and anyone can do it.
It is virtually maintenance free.
If I had to do it all over again, I would save some money and make my own panels.
That way you will get a faster return on your money.
But, then again, that information did not exist back then.
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