Alternative Energy

If it is self-sufficiency or the ability to be self-sufficient if forced by a natural or man-made disaster that we are pursuing then we must look to alternative energy. Alternative energy systems (solar, wind, hydro) to supply all of a family’s household energy consumption can really put a dent in the wallet. Solar kits start around $10,000-15,000 producing 3-5 kilowatts per sunny day. Look at your last electric bill for your current usage. Or better yet, calculate your average monthly usage throughout the year to get an accurate reading. If your household usage averages 1,000KWh/mth and your system collects 4KW/day (or 120KW/mth) you have a deficit of 880KW. A system to supply your 1,000KWh/mth habit will cost $40,000-50,000. So how can you gain energy independence for your family without going broke? Well, primarily by identifying the power hogs in your home and reducing usage. Much can also be saved by building your own system. Reducing and building!

Reducing your power usage or having the ability to do so will go a long way in making a home power system work. Your primary power eaters are clothes dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, ranges, hot water heaters, etc. You can quickly see which appliances are eating up the energy by calculating usage on this simple form. These items can easily be eliminated from your power users list. Go back to hanging cloths on a line and fluff (no heat) in the dryer if you must have the softness. Switch to gas or solar hot water and a gas range unless you can get the Pioneer Maid wood burning stove/oven/hot water heater. Believe it or not we used to live without microwaves. We have put ours away for the last couple years. It makes warming up left-overs a little more difficult but not too bad. And dishwashers…well, we can still wash dishes in the sink. If you must sterilize your dishes then use your solar cooker.  

Building your own hybrid alternative energy generating “plant” using solar panels, wind turbines and a back-up gasoline generator is a relatively simple process that is well worth the time and energy. It is certainly possible, but much more difficult, to be “self”sufficient without building your own system. However, this intimate knowledge of your system will be essential in a crisis/disaster. Prepare your home and family as if you were taking them on a global circumnavigation on a sailboat (i.e. no one else around to fix stuff). We need to be able to fix everything including our alternative power system which can be critical for certain functions such as running radios/communications equipment, keeping food cold, or lighting.

System components:

Considerations:

The system described above is a fully self-sufficient “off the grid” system. However, another great option is to drop the batteries and “tap into the grid”. This will allow you to save a considerable amount of money on your bill while maintaining the “limitless” power of the grid. If the grid is down you will at least have a back-up system while the wind is blowing or the sun is shining, being able to use the power you are currently producing. Many electric companies these days will send you a check if you put more into the grid than you take out.

The beauty of alternate energy is that whichever system you choose as best for your climate and lifestyle, you can easily add to it and alter it. A good way to start is to get a good book (see below) on building a solar panel and tap it into your home or workshop. Then add a wind generator and continue to build your system. It can be a great electronics education for the children too. 

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