What is “Off the Grid?” This term is used to describe your personal production of all your own energy needs through renewable energy. To be “Off the Grid” is not well understood by some.  It does not mean you have a dimly-lit one-room cabin in the backwoods where you are writing manifestos. You can be Off the Grid in suburbia, or your office building could be Off the Grid. It just boils down to the fact that you are your own power company. 

How much equipment is needed to be Off the Grid?  That is a decision that you have to make.  It all depends on how much energy you consume; or worse – how much you waste. 

The question I hear all the time is: I have a 2300 sq.ft. home, how much solar do I need?
The size of your home or dwelling is not the factor you would use to calculate this.  How much solar you need is a direct result of how much energy you use.  I have seen, where individuals are living next door to each other in almost identical homes, that one home owner will have a utility bill for $230 a month while the other home owner gets hit with over a $500 bill.

I can hear my parents now.  “What, do you think we own shares in the power company? Turn off the light!”  Those words ring true.   Conservation starts in the home.  The less energy you use the less your RE system will cost.

First, let’s look inside the house.  The number one energy hog is heat. Electric heaters can add tens of thousands of dollars to an Off the Grid system.  Propane or Natural gas is far more efficient and will save you big dollars.  The next greatest saving is with wood heating.  Even though sitting in front of a roaring fire is wonderful, the mess and work of wood offsets this joy; not to mention more and more states are requiring catalytic converters on wood-burning stoves.

Electric water heaters will bring a renewable energy system to its knees.  Once again, Propane and Natural Gas are far more efficient.   Solar Thermal systems are wonderful unless you live in a colder climate where you have long periods of gray skies. This can always be off-set with the use of “On Demand” water heaters. These units have come a long way over the years and can supply all your hot water needs (even for a large family).

Appliances are your next biggest energy hog.  Your refrigerator and your stove consume large amounts of energy.  Sunfrost, a company that has been in the Renewable Energy refrigerator business for many years, has models to meet everyone’s needs.  They are worth your taking a look.

Phantom loads are a big problem with today’s electronic equipment.  Did you know that your TV uses the same amount of energy OFF as it does ON?  There are products out there that can help you track down phantom loads such as Watts Up or a Kill-a-Watt Meter.

Here is a list of the most common appliances and their energy usage:

Now let’s look at what is needed for an Off the Grid system.  These questions will help in your equipment decision process. 

1.    Do you have room on the ground to mount solar panels or do you have to mount them on top of a structure.  Racks vs. Trackers
2.    Do you have the space needed to put up a Wind Generator?
3.    Do you already have power to your location?

1. If you have the room and the budget, mounting solar panels to a Tracker is always a preferred option. Ground mounting is next because you can always change the angle degree twice a year for the winter or summer solstice.  Roof mount systems are generally used because of lack of space.  Roof mounted systems, because they are affixed, are hard to adjust throughout the year.

2. Wind energy can be a wonderful resource.  Yes, some wind generators make a little noise, but I like the sound myself, as I know I am making power. Today there are many choices for wind energy and many configurations.  Some of the newest generators not only are quiet and very efficient, but quite beautiful while operating.

3. Do you already have power to your location? Then you have the opportunity to start small, plan well and work you way up to total energy independence.

Off the Grid components.  I will list these in order of installation.

1.    Solar Panel Mounting, Trackers, ground mount or roof mount.
2.    Solar panels
3.    Wire
4.    DC Disconnect
5.    Charge Controller
6.    Batteries
7.    Inverter
8.    AC Disconnect
9.    Meter
10. Standby Generator (Just in case)