Do you wish to get off the grid? You aren't alone. Moving away from the grid and even being energy independent has lots of benefits. This would mean you can forget monthly power bills, get rid of reliance on depleting fossil fuels, and no more blackouts as a result of an overworked grid structure. Before you decide to get off the grid, however, you have to do a couple of significant things. You will need to figure out how much electricity you will need, and you have to select the right way for you to generate that electricity.
Completing an Energy Review
Before going off the grid you must figure out how much energy you're presently using. To get this done, look at your power bills. Be sure you check usage for each calendar month of the year, paying particular attention to the summertime and winter months. The last thing you want to do is go off the grid and then fail to produce enough power to ensure you get through the chilly winter months.
Once you know the quantity of electrical power you presently use, figure out methods to decrease your consumption. Is the residence well insulated? Do you make use of energy efficient appliances? Have you got energy efficient practices, including unplugging devices that are not in use? Sit a while with your members of the family and brainstorm ideas about how you, as a team, can decrease your energy usage. After that put those ideas into action. Live for a few months utilizing your innovative energy plan, assessing your power bills as you go along. Then make use of those reviews to determine how much energy you'll want to produce when you finally go off the grid. With that answer, you'll then be ready to pick out another source of power.
Choosing a Power Source
When you finally get off the grid, you will be generating your energy with solar power panels, a turbine, or, ideally, a combination of each. Let us first examine solar power systems.
Residential solar panels
What's needed with regard to solar power panels are usually uncomplicated. If you're able to see and feel the rays of the sun, you can use solar power panels. For best results, have your solar power systems facing the south. Mount them so they soak up the sun's rays at a 30-degree angle. Additionally, residential solar panels are fragile, so ensure you install them in a very safe area. The majority of people install these products on their roofs. To determine how many solar panels you'll need, use the details from your energy audit along with your solar panel manufacturer's output descriptions. If you're a DIY kind of man or woman, contemplate putting together your own panels. You will save yourself lots of money as a result of doing it by yourself.
Wind generators
To use a windmill you have got to be in a proper locale. Above all, you ought to be in a place that gets constant winds. Should sizeable buildings or woods encircle your house, a wind generator might not be the best option for your needs. If this is the scenario, and you nevertheless wish to use a wind generator, remember that the smoothest, most constant winds are going to be thirty feet higher than any close by buildings. Well before acquiring or constructing a wind generator, buy a wind meter and document the wind speeds at your location. Ideally, you would like to get readings in each of the four seasons. In addition, talk to your regional government to see if there are any restrictions or permits you should be concerned about. Just like solar panels, think about building your own wind generator. Doing this will save you a great deal of money.
Wind and solar Combination
Lots of people who go off the grid make use of a mixture of wind and solar power. Using solar panels and a wind turbine will give you enable you to generate energy 24 hours a day as well as in a good number of natural conditions. If you're intent on getting off the grid and experiencing energy independence, I suggest that you make use of both wind and solar energy.
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