Alternative Energi Solutions

Living off of the grid means that a person can survive in an autonomous household where it provides at least one public utility without help. This can either be gas, sewer, water, electricity, all of the above, or a combination. A person often questions whether or not a home can be totally independent of the grid for energy. In 2006, almost 180,000 families were living successfully off of the grid, which was a 33% increase from the past ten years. Approximately 1.7 billion people are living off of the grid around the world, including those off the grid from the beginning, like Amish communities and other places where power is not utilized. Ed Begley, Jr., and Daryl Hannah are well-known celebrities who speak well for off-grid lifestyles. There are entire cities that live in tents and use off-grid energy systems.

There are three steps to living totally off of the grid through green alternative energy. First, a household must discover an energy source that lets them produce energy without relying on the grid. Next, they must lessen their energy use, so that the energy that is produced will be enough. Lastly, the person must be able to store the energy to be used at a later time. This is like allowing a solar garden light to remain in the sun all day, so it gets activated and will stay luminous all night.

If a person wants to make enough energy to operate independently off of the grid, they must buy some kind of conventional energy source or find some form of electrical renewable energy. Examples of this are solar panels or wind turbines. Sun and wind are not always readily available, so it is essential to place them in areas that will create the maximum amount of energy.

It is important to be conscientious about the energy that is produced, just as a person does not waste food. Consider how much electricity is absolutely needed and how much can be saved. Switching to energy-efficient devices is a simple first step. Think about using thermal water heaters or a wood burning stove. A watt meter can be used to identify what devices in the home use the most energy and uncover an alternative solution. Photovoltaic panels are the best way to collect solar energy that can be utilized as a power source for many different types of gadgets. Keep in mind that saving energy is equal in importance to making and storing energy for times of day that need more energy or on days when it is cloudy or calm outside.

Living on an off the grid energy system takes planning and time to get used to, but it is able to be done. For beginners, it may be smart to combine electrical renewable energy with a grid system and work toward living off of the grid in smaller steps. Urban environments fare well by utilizing a mixture of the two while environments in rural communities may thrive in an off of the grid setup.