Getting "Off The Grid" - It's a Way of Life
As traditional electricity sources become more expensive, many people look to
alternative energies as a way to get “off the grid". Although it is possible to
install residential devices which can supply all the energy needed for a typical
household, it is quite an expensive undertaking.
By far the most difficult type of energy to replace is electricity. It is true
that solar panels can be installed on rooftops and other sunny areas, but many
will find that the cost involved is too great. A 2500 Watt system, for example,
would cost in the neighborhood of $30,000. Installing it yourself would lessen
the cost, but the batteries alone would be about $10,000.
Still it's not only the economics that count. It's also your independence of
the "grid" that counts. It's part of a self sufficient lifestyle! And besides,
in some states we can take advantage of the grid by delivering our access energy
to the grid and getting paid good money in return. Especially California is know
for their generous compensation for what is officially called "net metering".
Check with your local authorities to find out more about subsidies and net
metering possibilities.
People living in remote areas, however, may find this cost to be cheaper than
running an electrical hook-up from the power company. In any case, there are
other ways to reduce dependency on the traditional power company, and this
includes using solar power for water heating. Solar water heaters are quite a
bit cheaper to install than solar panels for electricity, and can adequately
supply enough hot water for a household.
However, solar panels are not very effective in areas which don't receive a lot
of sunshine. For these areas, a wind turbine may be an alternative to solar
power. Installed on a tower, a wind turbine could provide at least supplemental
electricity to your household.
As an alternative to getting completely “off the grid”, some power companies
have programs to buy back electricity produced by solar panels. In this case,
you are still connected to the municipal power supply, but if your solar panels
produce more energy than you can use, the excess is taken by the power company
which gives you a rebate.
This may be the best of both worlds -- you may be able to provide most of your
household's electricity while still having the backup of the municipal power
supply in case of extended cloudy weather.
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