Off The Grid Living with Renewable Energy

When you want to experience off the grid living first hand, then you have two basic options: Wind power and solar power. Whether you choose to use just one of the options or a combination of the two, you can easily become independent of your current energy company so that you are making a positive change for the environment.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is perhaps the most popular form of renewable energy in the world, simply because it is easier to have a dependable supply of power when you use the Sun. There are very few places where solar power would fail to provide all of the energy you need for off the grid living, as long as you have enough solar panels to support your home.

You can use one of the commercial systems that are installed by a professional company, or you can build your own solar system. The main difference between these two options, besides the amount of work involved for you, is the cost. A commercial solar power system can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $36,000, making this an option that may not be right for your personal needs.

If you choose to build your own solar system, you will need an estimated $1,000 for a system that will allow you to participate in off the grid living. Besides your solar panels (which you may be able to build yourself), you will need a converter and batteries to store the energy in until it is used.

Wind Energy

Wind energy is not as popular as solar energy, but it is a great addition to your off the grid living plans. Wind energy is often unreliable, except in certain regions of the nation that are mostly wide, open plains. To harness the energy of the wind, you will need a basic windmill and a converter to turn the energy into a useable form for your home.

More than one windmill is your best bet, especially if you just want to supplement your solar power source or a traditional source of electricity. Once you have your first windmill going, you will be able to more accurately decide how many you will need for off the grid living using wind energy.

Combination Systems

Using a combination of wind and solar energy may be your best option for using renewable energy as the sole source of power for your home. Beginning with a few solar panels and a windmill is an excellent start for off the grid living, especially if you are on a budget and don’t have the money to install a huge wind or solar system on your property at once.

A combination system is a good idea if you aren’t sure what is going to work best in your climate, as well. Once you have an idea of how much power each of your systems are producing, then you can make a choice about which system to use for the long term.