Off Grid Power

How to Benefit from Off Grid Power

The idea of building off grid power for your home is increasingly popular these days for a wide variety of reasons. Some people choose to go off the grid for wholly practical reasons, while others prefer to drop off due to ideological and philosophical considerations. Regardless, all those who choose to live off the grid are able to successfully reduce their dependence on the outside world, and often save a lot of money by detaching themselves from the often usurious energy companies.

 

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What are the Most Common Forms of Off Grid Power?

In general, off grid power sources come from the big three- solar power, wind power, and hydropower. Some people with off grid power systems use only one of the three, while others opt to use some practical combination of two or three of them.

Hydro power systems are the most dependent upon the environment surrounding where you live. Unlike solar and even wind power, hydro power is not particularly feasible in an urban environment and is best suited to rural homes.

Wind power was originally also only feasible in rural environments, but that has been changing with improvements in the technology. Smaller wind turbines are available which fit more conveniently in backyards, and there are even smaller wind turbines on the market which are no larger or more obtrusive than a standard satellite dish.

Solar power remains the most popular and easily accessible form of off grid power, especially since it’s so versatile. You can generate solar power with everything from large panels on the roof of your home or car, to smaller panels that can fit in or on your backpack.

If you're considering preparing your home for off-grid power, you should consider looking at some of the DIY guide products. While marketed as solar installation, Earth4Energy are also packaging their wind power solutions for a limited time. Click on the image below for more information.

 

 

Should I use a Personal Grid or a Battery?

Most off grid power systems actually use a combination of the two. For example, take into consideration a solar panel. By nature, a solar panel is only useable when there is sufficient sunlight. So does that mean that a solar powered house while only enjoy electricity during the daylight hours?

Not at all. Most off grid power systems plug their energy directly into your home’s power grid, while also charging a large battery for use when energy is not being actively generated. Standard batteries within these systems are able to claim a sizeable portion of the energy your system will generate (80%) and have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years. In general, batteries work best with wind and solar powered systems.

What about heat?

Heat can be generated in a number of different ways off the grid. Solar water heaters are becoming increasingly popular and effective for keeping hot water in the house, while there are a number of options for heating the various rooms within your house. Some off the grid pioneers opt for electric powered heat, either central or through space heaters, while others prefer to generate their heat through wood burning stoves and heaters. Heat is no more of a problem when you’re living off the grid than energy is.

 

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