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We want off the grid!
Posted Monday, February 2, 2009, at 8:45 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
Get off that grid!
That's one of the Ferree-Puckett family's goals. Especially after getting the recent utility bill which was even cushioned by the following incident: I'm getting a ride home from former co-worker Laura who drops me off at my front door. But she notices a utility bill on the ground and informs me about it. So, I get out of the car and reach down to grab it as she pulls off. The bill total is $800. I just about have a heart attack, but then I realize it's not my bill and it must have been dropped by the mailcarrier. Then I notice my utility bill in my mailbox. Heart races, nerves twitch, EGADS!!! How much COULD it be??? Would it be MORE or LESS? And how much MORE or LESS?? The total was a whole lot less than the one I picked up off the ground. But it's still $100 more than last month's and last month's wasn't CHEAP! So back to this off the grid thing. Kade and I researched the topic a bit last night. Our first question was a solar generator or a wind-powered one? We both agreed we'd like one of each. But that was just an initial reaction after experiencing last week's power outage. (Which by the way I'm no Laura Ingalls.) Anyway, we want to start small and work our way there. Our main goal is to have a solar generator (or some other green way to power up) by January 2010. Is this feasible? Effective and efficient? I don't know. I've given Kade the job of figuring it out. But any thoughts or suggestions on the matter would be greatly appreciated. We're getting off the grid ... Timberly Ferree is a staff writer at the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by e-mail at tferree@gcdailyworld.com or by phone at 1-800-947-4487 or (812) 847-4487. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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With solar power you have to consider a high upfront cost ($25K-$40K depending on your requirements) and a long payback period. There really is no incentive provided by the State, but I think you do get a Federal Tax break of $2K.
So all you need is money...and plenty of sunshine. Good luck.
It's not really worth it around here, for a single home with a yard your size. You might be able to supplement you electricity, but you'll still be a slave to gas (if you use it).
With the cost of electricity going up it's easy to want to get off the grid. I do think we need to to remember this whenever we praise the great and mighty Mitch for cutting taxes. Folks, the money to run the city has to come from somewhere. Please tell me I'm wrong.
startup costs are huge, but there are several things you can do to get off the grid.
obviously, depending on location, your mileage will vary.
dig a well for your water. get a wood stove or outdoor wood burning furnace (obviously not green, but much lower utility usage) to heat your home and your water. there are solar water heaters. solar shingles and a wind turbine will make a big help on the electricity, but in the meantime, you can start unplugging stuff that you're not using, get a programmable thermostat, CFL bulbs, etc.
i was considering going green a while back, and found a blog from michigan where a guy put solar shingles on his roof. he had decent results
Turn down the heat to 64 degrees. It's really hard to get use to at first, but you will get use to it after awhile. Besides, you have sweatshirts, blankets, and other ways to warm yourself besides having the thermostat blasting at temps over 70 degrees. I'm particularly fond of hooded sweatshirts.
Turn off the lights in the house. I live without hardly any lights on in the house. The only light I use is from the computer or the TV and occasionally I leave a small light on. But every other light in the house is OFF as much as possible. If I need to do homework, I turn the light on, do homework as fast as possible and then turn light back off.
Turn the water heater temp down some. That will save you a ton of money. I'd love to have my water heater blasting out scalding hot showers each morning, but it's just to expensive to have it turned up that high. Depending how many people are in your home, you'll need to alternate showers so that everyone gets a warm shower everyday. For instance, someone take a shower at 7pm, someone else gets to take one at 9pm and maybe then someone takes one at 6am that way the water heater has time to reheat for everyone to use it but your saving money because the water isn't getting as hot.
Of course, there is only one person in my house but my electric is under $100 a month and my gas is under $200.
Good luck!!!
The unfortunate truth in the messages you have received is that the savings doesn't seem to justify the initial cost,longevity and replacement of energy source replacement. This is especially true in an older homes. Material used in the construction of newer homes and the newly sealed insulation and air ducts make reducing the public energy usage a better alternative. Low energy CFL & LED bulbs have given us no reason for even the poor to live in the dark. We only have 2 to 3 months of dangerously cold temperatures in the worst of winters and the simple truth is that it makes much better sense to keep what warmth you get from public energy from escaping the living areas of your home. It also makes more sense in an older home, since it improves (or at least limits depreciation of)the value of your older home. If you use an alternative energy source with 50 year old insulation and ducts you are really wasting your money.
You always solicit stimulating conversation, Timberly. Keep up the good work.
I'm not sure if this would help or not, but I figured I would post the link.
http://www.44power.com/whatreallyhappene...
Timberly,
If you do get solar power you need to check with the Auditor's office because I think you can get a tax break or some type of credit on your property tax. Something to look into.