Solar Energy Advantages

http://www.rockriver.us The following videos document my personal experience with a complete DO-IT-YOURSELF approach to installing a wind turbine and solar panels to produce power for my home .

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http://www.rockriver.us

The following videos document my personal experience with a complete DO-IT-YOURSELF approach to installing a wind turbine and solar panels to produce power for my home .

Duration : 0:10:14

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m looking for a piece of property in northern Fla./southern Ga. I want to make it as self sufficient as possible. Growing my own vegetables, raising my own protein sources and such. I’ve looked into solar power and wind mills as power sources. Both seem feasible but which is best? Also is there anything else I can/should do? I plan on living there the rest of my life and any suggestions are welcome.

I looked over some of your other questions. At first I figured you to be a teenager, wanting to live the perfect "green lifestyle."

Read your health problems. Now I see why the earthship answers probably received thumbs down. Earthships are the best type of home to build. However I do not think you would be physically up to pounding all that dirt, and it’s extremely hard to hire having an earthship built.

To answer you question, you really need to have a mix of power sources. There will be days the sun does not shine enough to charge the batteries…but the wind is probably blowing.

If you are going to be off grid entirely, you need a mix of 2-5 different sources for your household power.

We will be building entirely off grid. We live in the Pacific Northwest, about 20 miles from the Canadian border. So we can have some pretty cold and snowy winters.

We will have wind, active solar, passive solar, a Central Boiler (brand name), hydro if we can legally, wood stoves (heat), wood cook stove, solar gain from the proper positioning of our home, wind cooling of our home from proper possitioning. We debate installing gas appliances run on propane. That however makes us dependent on companies and we don’t really want that. Natural Gas is not an option where we are.

Active solar…charges batteries and provides electric for your use.
Passive solar…only heats up water, and provides hot water that way.
Wind turbines produce electricity
Wind mills grind grain, or pump water

Skystream 3.7 makes a very good wind turbine product for homeowners. Here’s a link:

http://www.skystreamenergy.com/

For a protien source, you really need to check out goats. Both the meat, and the milk from goats. Do some research, you may be suprised at how good they are for you, and how gentle both are for the human body to digest.

If you are building your own house, build it to take maximum advantage of solar gain for winter, and prevailing winds for cooling. You can make 50 degree differences in your home just by doing that.

Only build/buy in an area where it is legal for you to have a rainwater catch system. Install a metal roof on your home, and catch your own rainwater.

Start to make lists of what is extremely important to you (cannot live without) and what you are willing to be flexible on. Start doing lots of research. Check books out from your local library and read up on your topics of interest.

Think outside the box (or maybe in the box!). Those places you mentioned are very termite prone. Concider using Conex boxes to build your home. They are made of metal, and easy to use to build homes. You can insulate the outside of them, and get rid of the industrial box look. Best of all, termites cannot eat them!

~Garnet
Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years
Raising meat goats since 1999

The power of the sun is responsible for producing solar energy and wind energy.  Humans have been using solar and wind energy in some form since ancient times for illumination, warmth and power.  It took modern man a long time to figure out how useful renewable energy is; it’s been quite a long and dirty road.  Had we expanded the uses of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, think about how the world would be different.  Fortunately, we have that opportunity now.

First Things First

You might choose solar energy or wind energy as your preferred renewable energy, but you could use them in combination to maximize your energy production and minimize your investment.  Before you choose any solar wind power, minimizing your energy consumption is your single biggest opportunity for savings.  A professional home energy audit will reduce your energy usage.  The recommendations could save you thousands of dollars and give you insights into your best options for renewable energy.  Taking this step saves you twice, in the short term you will see decreased energy bills and as your purchase your solar wind power, you will need to purchase less.  Definitely a step worth taking.

The Solar Solution

Solar energy could be your total energy solution if you store your excess in batteries.  Now you will have energy to draw upon at night.  However, you may not be ready to go for a total energy solution, but want to supply a portion of your energy.  That is possible with solar panels and net metering.  You will still be connected to the electrical grid, but in the event you produce more than you need, you’ll receive a credit or your electric company will buy your excess energy.  

Solar is a good option if you live in a sunny location and your heating and air conditioning costs are moderate.  In areas where heating and AC costs are a significant portion of your electric expense, solar may not be able to supply all your electrical needs because of limited roof space and cost.  Combining renewable energy technologies to provide all your electrical needs may be a better solution.

The Wind Solution

Wind energy is now efficient at wind speeds of 7-10 mph.  The Small Wind Industry has been working hard to develop solutions for homeowners and they have been successful in eliminating many of the problems that face the Large Wind Industry.  When choosing wind as an option, the most important consideration is the wind speed over your house.  There are no wind charts that can provide you with this information; you need to measure this to make sure your situation has all the right elements.  Your particular wind situation depends on the trees and large structures surrounding your home and changing the wind patterns.  This will cost a few hundred dollars and a few months of measuring.  Knowing the wind speed will help you make a better choice and one that results in the most efficient wind turbine output.

Teaming Up Solar and Wind

Combining solar and wind to supply your electrical needs may be your best option if your electrical usage is higher than either technology alone can affordably provide.  Certainly evaluate each option separately first and then your options as your combine technologies.  Your best option is to find an energy consultant that has experience combining solar and wind. 

You’ve decided renewable energy is your next step.  Your home energy audit provided you with lots of opportunities to save energy and your changes have resulted in reduced energy usage and costs.  Now, take your time to evaluate solar wind power.  Combining these technologies may provide you with all the electricity you need at a lower cost than either technology alone.