With all of the high prices for energy of any type, more and more the utilities and the government are talking of alternative energy sources, namely the free ones like the sun and wind. Years ago the only people talking about it or doing it were the granola types as we called them or the dooms day type. Perhaps the granolas were right in wanting to go natural and less pollution and tho it isn't doomsday the energy prices make it feel that way, at least to the bank account.
Ok ,so we weren't the granola type or the doomsday type but we bought land in an area where their were no power lines, most likely due to the high expense of getting the lines to the property or any property near here. After using a generator for quite some time and noticing the current neighbors had photovoltaic solar panels and wind generators we looked into it. Not long after that we set up a small simple system. A year later we went bigger.
Myths: Huge expense... We are the slowest big country to start utilizing solar and wind in mass scale. Germany, Sweden, Norway, Spain are huge consumers of solar and wind products and they don't do it because it is more expensive, they do it because it is more cost effective. Some places are much better at looking into the future and the needs and expense of current avenues in the future so they plan ahead and started implementing them slowly years ago. In retrospect it is the most inexpensive way to go in the long run.
Solar panels last for years and years and do not slowly wear out so you can purchase used panels for a real bargain. Wind generators do not have many parts that wear out and there are many inexpensive good ones out there. We didn't know this so we bought new. There is a case for both new and used. For now there are many tax incentives in the form of rebate's and money back from local state and federal agencies. This will end I am sure when everyone is forced to go green. As time goes on with the big push to go with sustainable energy, prices will (and they already are starting to) go up so anyone seeing the future should buy now because it won't be a myth that it costs a bundle in the future.
The other myth is that it is inconvenient and you will have to give up all your desired electrical amenities like your tv, dvd player, wii, stereo, microwave, computer, dishwasher, washing machine etc. Truth: A medium sized system can run all of them. We have a bazillion power tools, even a jack hammer and a frappuccino blender. Black outs and brown outs don't occur, rate hikes don't occur and if the sun and wind don't produce for a day or two due to storms we back the system up with a generator which only runs for 2 hours to charge the system for 24 hours worth of electricity. Now that's convenience!
Now many people envision systems that take a ton of maintenance, undependable and annoying. Years ago my vision of a system and home like this consisted of a little run down shack, barren land and candles for light! Boy was I wrong. We even have a swimming pool and until recently a pond with, yup you guessed it a waterfall with an electric pump. When the storms and black/brown outs occur I am sitting snuggly in my warm house on the internet or watching tv. I don't spend as much time doing maintenance as I used to do paying bills when I lived on grid. I also don't have to worry about high heating costs even for hot water. Solar water collectors do that for me and all for free from the sun
Years ago living off grid meant no phone, internet or cable tv. Well those days are gone now with the cell phone, satelite internet and dish network. We and all of our neighbors have been using cell phones as our home phone since they were the big baggy analog cell phones, satelite tv and internet from the very moment they were available, so in a way we were the highest must have techie gadget lovers of them all right from the beginning.
I am off for now to go tend to our garden which by the way is watered from rainwater runoff to storage barrels ( free water) and grey water from our laundry, shower etc.
Have a beautiful day !
