Guide to Living Off the Grid and Becoming Energy Independent

Living Off The Grid – The How To Guide On Getting Off The Grid

Posted on 2nd November 2011 by Greg Masterson in Off The Grid

If you are planning to build your own windmill or solar power generator, then my good friend Ben has some great advice on how to build them for cheap and maximize energy output. Click here to read it.

If you’re like most people, you crave and value your freedom and independence. You are not alone. For hundreds of years, the American way has always been to do things yourself and be self-reliant.

Whether you pay $100 a month for electricity or $400 a month, you always get the nagging feeling that you are being ripped off. After all the technology and advances in this world, isn’t there a cleaner, cheaper source of energy? Does one always have to rely on the power company for all your power needs?

Times are changing. Time are getting tough. Recessions and depressions will come and go like cars in a fast-food drive-in. The only way to protect yourself from uncertain times and not be forced to rely on possibly corrupt 3rd parties is to go off the grid; to make all your electricity for good by yourself at no future cost.

Currently there are 2 sources of infinite power and that is solar power and windmill power. The pro’s and con’s are:

Solar Power Pros:

1. Clean

2. Looks nice

3. Takes up much less space than windmills

4. Produces more power than windmills typically

Solar Power Cons:

1. Expensive to build

2. Does not work during the night or during cloudy days

3. May need more batteries to store power

4. More expensive per kilowatt per dollar due to cons #1-3.

Windmill Power Pros:

1. Clean

2. Generates more power or kilowatts per dollar

3. Works all the time in any weather

4. More sturdy and terrain resistant than solar panels

Windmill Power Cons:

1. Takes longer to setup or build

2. Takes up a lot of space

3. May not look so good

4. May not produce a lot of power due to one big flaw

5. Possibly cheaper if done right

Now it’s very hard to type out how to actually build either of these two infinite power sources but there is a guide out there that will walk you through, step by step, the benefits of both solar power and windmill power. It was written by an acquaintance of mine named Ben Ford. Regardless of which power source you choose, you will be shown the fastest, cheapest way to build either. Personally I chose solar power because I wanted my home to look nice but it was pretty expensive. The guide I recommend is a good primer on how to start getting off the grid for only $200-$300. If you’re looking to power your entire home then with this guide you can build a $4000 power system for only $1500, a savings of $2500 off the normal prices you see out there.

The savings is the result of intelligent and patient design and placing of your solar panels or windmills in optimal positions, which is taught in that guide.

If you decide to take some of Ben’s advice, he will teach you:

1. The proven way to get off the grid that works correctly. 1000′s of people have succeeded following Ben’s advice.

2. The way solar panels really work in relation to the sun and harness the basics into a maximized kilowatt generator.

3. To build a complete solar panel for less than $100 each using a colored diagram with exact step-by-step instructions on how to wire all the cells correctly and seamlessly.

4. Solar power calculation. Use this mathematical formula to figure out how many panels you will need to power your home. This will lead you to buying or building the appropriate sized battery to store your energy.

5. The optimal place to mount all your solar panels.

6. How to correctly fill out the tax credit and tax rebate forms when going “green” and telling uncle sam.

7. Complete analysis and explanation of the internal wiring plan of your house and solar panels. Failure to follow this will result in sub-par solar power generation.

8. Wind power basics.

9. Build wind turbines for less than $150 and 2 hours of your time.

10. Wind maps of your area to figure out exactly how much wind power you can expect to generate.

11. Why what you do will help save this planet.

Ben’s guide is not for everyone though because it does have some cons, which are:

1. Lotta information. There were ebooks and videos aplenty. While organized, it still felt a bit overwhelming.

2. Tax credits for building green energy devices were a little confusing for me to claim. Dealing with the IRS is always a pain.

3. Personal queries or questions from me took 3 days to respond to. I prefer 24 hours.

4. There is some work involved. While it only took a few days worth of work to install everything, building a self-reliant power system is always a lot of work.

Overall, if you truly are serious about getting off the grid, especially if you want to power your whole house, then read and follow Ben’s advice before you overpay by upwards to 166%. That’s a lot of money.

Make windmill power (use this link)

Make solar power (use this link)

If you’re contemplating buying retail solar panels that are $1000+, know that you can build the exact same type and productive solar for at least 50-75% off that. Why is it so cheap? Because most people do not know how to wire the panels and mount them correctly for maximum power output. Same goes for windmills because you not only have to build it correctly, you need to figure out where to place it so you get maximum wind blowing through the turbine fans. Remember, Ben is just someone I know and his advice has definitely helped me out when I built my own solar panels so see if what he has to say will work for you too. Ben’s site can be found here.

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40 Year LED Light Bulbs

Posted on 30th August 2011 by Greg Masterson in Off The Grid

The idea behind these light bulbs is to have bright lights that basically last forever, or half your lifetime.

Perhaps one of the reasons why the US government is trying to ban “lightbulbs” is because they want to corner and deny high energy efficient lighting solutions for average people.

This vendor will ship worldwide.

Energy savings go through the roof if you hook these up to a solar panel, thus compounding the energy efficiency of your home.

Click the buy now button to order. Limit 3 per family per order.

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Harness the Incredible Power of the Sun

Posted on 22nd June 2011 by Greg Masterson in Solar powered articles

Harness the Incredible Power of the Sun: Go Off the Grid

Since the beginning of time, the power of the sun has been harnessed by the human race to support off the grid initiatives. Until we develop technology like in Star Trek, we are still dependent on the sun for providing the maximum amount of heat and light for Earth. This is true even if we are not living in a regular home. The healing properties of the sun have been told since the beginning of time and none of us are averse to the idea of sitting in the warm sunshine during hard winter days.

With advancements in modern science and technology, mankind is slowly learning to harness the incredible power of the sun for producing efficient electricity, heating, and lighting. Surprisingly, if we are able to effectively harness one hundredth of a millionth percentage of the sun’s amazing power, we will be able to meet the electricity demands of the entire planet several times over. However, this is still a distant reality. More and more people, however, are becoming aware of the sun as a convenient, clean, and economical source of renewable energy.

There are mainly three kinds of devices used in self-sustaining homes for converting sun power into useable energy. They are:

Photo-voltaic Cells- Photo-voltaic cells or PV cells are the most common kinds of solar cells used in off the grid houses for generating electricity. These cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. These cells are extremely effective, as a sunny day can power a 100watt lightbulb with only 1 square meter of a solar panel. Initially, solar cells were invented to provide electricity to man-made satellites, but now the technology has become advanced enough for retail home use.
Solar Water Heating- In this process the heat from the sun is used to warm up or heat water stored in pipes on the rooftops of homes. These pipes are blackened on the outside and the water is pumped from inside. As the water passes through the blackened portions of the pipes, it gets heated up through the convection currents and this heated water is then piped back into the house for bathing, cooking, washing, or cleaning purposes. With the additional source of heated water, this helps the house save money on gas and heating bills. This apparatus is immensely popular in some regions where despite colder temperatures, there is ample sunshine available all throughout the year. However, during the winter months one must remember to drain out all the water stored in the pipes as the water might freeze overnight and crack or burst the pipes.
Advanced Solar Water Heating- Technological advancements in the standard solar water heaters have made this apparatus quite popular in the United Kingdom. Typically, 90% of an off the grid home’s hot water is generated by these advanced solar water heating pipes between the months of April and November. The solar-powered water heating panel used in UK is called a “Thermomax” Panel and is made up of a set of glass tubes. These glass tubes contain metal plates with a blue-coating, so that they are able to absorb the sun rays from IR to UV. The air is removed from the glass tubes to reduce heat loss, much like the thermos mug. A “heat pipe” is placed behind the metal plate to transfer the heat generated quickly from the top of the glass tube. This metal plate looks like copper but it is filled with a liquid which helps heat transfer. A water pipe is then placed across the top of the apparatus, which picks up any heat along the way.
Solar Boilers- Another advancement in solar heater technology is solar boilers. In solar boilers, the power is collected through the solar tiles and is used to fuel and heat a separate water cylinder, which further provides hot water to the house.
Solar Furnaces- Solar furnaces are an array of mirrors placed on the roof or garden of a home, which concentrates the sun’s energy into small spaces and produces very high temperatures. These solar furnaces can be used to cook food or heat water in hot countries and can also be identified by their huge solar cookers look.

There are many common uses for renewable solar power. Solar cells are used for running satellites that orbit the earth. These satellites in turn run our satellite TVs, telephones, navigation equipment (GPS), weather forecasting equipment, and in some cases the internet.

The Solar One power station in California uses the Sun’s heat to make steam and powers a generator to generate electricity. The mirrors in this solar furnace are arranged in circles around a “power tower”. The mirror-panel keeps pace with the sun’s directional change to keep the rays focused on this tower, where oil is heated to more than 3000 degrees Celsius. This heat from the oil generates steam, which in turn moves a turbine that has the capacity of generating more than 10kW of renewable electrical power. Another famous example of a solar power system are the solar-powered boats in Coniston Water from the Lake District of Great Britain.

The developed world is slowly waking up to the many advantages of off the grid solar power. Some of them are as follows:

Solar energy is free as it does not need fuel and produces no waste or pollution, thereby creating a clean source of energy.
In remote places where countries are sunny, solar power can be used to generate electricity, where public utilities are not generally available.
Solar energy can be used to power low-energy appliances such as garden lights and battery chargers. This in turn contributes towards reducing electricity bills in your home.

If you want to know about PV cells, check out Nasa’s article here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/

If you’re a student and need some information about how PV cells work, read this: http://www.nmsea.org/Curriculum/7_12/PV/explore_pv.htm

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Good reasons for going solar for your home

Posted on 21st June 2011 by Greg Masterson in Solar powered articles

Why should you install solar panels for your home?

A few years back, solar panels for your home meant huge roof top panels that did nothing but spoiled the look of the beautiful houses and produced barely sufficient power. But now this concept is no longer valid any more, with the improvements in the technology. Today there are various options available that help in making houses self sufficient in terms of power requirements. Amongst the various options available, solar energy and wind energy are the methods mostly used for residential purposes. No doubt both the systems have their own pros and cons but in the long run they prove to be cost effective and help in saving a lot of money that is spent on bill payments of public utilities.

Solar panels for your home are mostly apt for those houses that are well exposed to sunlight. In the houses that are situated in valleys or where there are a lot of trees, the solar power system may not be feasible since the power generation will not be sufficient enough and most of the times there will be a need for back-up sources. But even with these constraints the solar energy generation methods prove to be economical and eco friendly. These solar panels produce energy in the day time and a continuous exposure to sunlight is always better for adequate power generation. The excess energy that is created during the day time can be used at night.

The solar energy created by these solar panels for homes can be utilised for different purposes. The common ones include the production of electricity by the use of Photovoltaic or PV Technology and solar energy for water heating with the use of Solar Thermal or Flat Plate Technology.

This electric current can also be stored for use in the future. PV cells initially were not used for household purposes since they were not cost effective. But in the present days, this PV technology has advanced greatly and now power generation for individual household requirements is also done by installing such solar panels in houses. Setting up of PV systems is also on a rise thanks to the contribution of the government by introducing various incentive programs for solar panels for your home.

This solar electric generation turns out to be quite advantageous over a period of time. This is the best source of power generation amongst all the other sources of renewable energy sources and is completely eco-friendly. Power generation by this method does not involve creation of any kind of pollution. The installation expenses of solar panels for your homes are not much and the operating cost as well as the maintenance cost of these systems is hardly anything. Since the energy that is produced by these panels can be stored, it eliminates the need of back-ups since this stored energy can be utilised during nights and other days where the demand for energy is high. But then for individuals installing the power generating solar panels for homes can turn out be difficult since the electricity generating systems are more expensive compared to the water heating systems. Apart from this there is an absolute necessity of having a storage facility since power needs to be stored for times of non conducive climatic conditions or night times.

But on the whole such systems turn out to be useful since they help in substantially reducing the effect of the pollution created by the power generation plants on the environment. It also facilitates energy independence for individuals and also guarantees savings on excess electricity bills. Though at present this seems to be a costly proposition, few years down the line, many individuals can expect a recovery of at least 50 percent of the initial investment by way of savings on electricity bills.

The flat-plate collectors are metal boxes with glass or plastic covers on top with dark-colored absorber plates at the bottom. These plates absorb the solar energy and convert it into heat energy which heats up the water for residential purposes. These systems are largely by individual home owners as also for commercial purposes where there is a frequent requirement of hot water. These solar water heaters are highly cost effective and help in saving a lot of expense incurred on paying of bills. These water heaters are easily available and can be installed at reasonable rates.

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Energy Independence Always Existed Before The 1st World

Posted on 20th June 2011 by Greg Masterson in General information

Living Off the Grid: A Third World Reality.

While going off the grid might be catching up as a fashionable whim in developed countries, it is and has always been a necessity in third world countries. Going off the grid essentially means having a home or an establishment which is not dependent on the government for public utility services such as water, electricity, natural gas, and sewerage. In this regard, third world countries have been suffering for a very long time. They have had to live off indigenously built, low-cost renewable energy generators in their homes, schools, hospitals, and churches where public utility services have yet to become a reality.

It is obvious that public utility infrastructures has yet to reach these villages and even when they do, it will likely be beyond the affordability of the common farmer. No electricity essentially means there are no clinics or hospitals as well. This constant threat endangers the lives of millions. It is for this exact reason that the infant and child mortality rates in these countries are extremely high. In the absence of alternative energy options, with no electricity to power hospitals, the poor people are forced to either visit quacks or wait for a slow and painful death.

Solar energy systems are a boon for such hapless people as it helps in the running of critical structures like hospitals within the range of any village. These solar systems have a service life of more than 30 years and this renewable fuel from the sun comes absolutely free of charge. Although generators run on fossil fuels, oil can be another option. But the rising cost of refined oil in under-developed nations combined with the high cost of transportation from the urban areas have made this option fairly unpopular in cash-starved villages.

It has been proven that the following basic needs of these villages can be met by solar power systems such as:

1. Lighting

2. Heating

3. Communication facilities

4. Cooking

5. Refrigeration

6. Laundry and sterilization.

Needless to say, the path to setting up these power systems is fraught with problems. Some of them being:

Requirement of High Initial Capital- Although easier to set up and operate, solar power systems are costly to set up. Nowadays, despite developments in the field, equal amounts of capital are required for the solar panels and their respective batteries. Further advances in the aforementioned technology is being researched to bring about more conversion efficiency and reduce production costs.
Expensive ancillary costs- The cost of transportation and labor for setting up these generator systems in remote areas also adds to the considerable startup cost.
Lack of skilled manpower- The irony of being in a third World country where off the grid solar systems are a necessity is that there is a lack of skilled manpower to set up these systems. Most technicians are not trained to set up and handle them.

There are various organizations by both world governments and non-governmental, that are striving to support these third world countries in setting up their own independent power stations.

As an alternative to the more popular solar power, wind energy is gaining popularity. More than 50 percent of the worldwide production of wind power has been produced in Asia and Africa alone. That’s more than half of the estimated 158 gigawatts (GW) produced in 2009. It is estimated that more than 3 million households across the globe get their power from small solar PV systems. There are also many households which are being served by micro-hydro systems that are powered by small scale mini-grids.

It is no wonder that more than 18 per cent of the total electricity generation in the world is through renewable sources and this figure is likely to increase into the near future. Renewable wind and solar power generators are being used more frequently in many developed countries as well. Some promising statistics are as follows:

14% of the electricity generated in the state of Iowa is from renewable energy.
40% of the electricity generated in the German-state of Schleswig-Holstein is from alternative energy sources.
Denmark plans to have at least 20% of their total electricity be produced by windmills, solar panels, and other clean energy solutions.
Almost 100% of the electricity needed in countries such as Paraguay and Iceland are generated from alternative sources such as geothermal energy.
Norway is run almost entirely on renewable energy (98%), followed by Brazil (86%) and New Zealand (65%).

It is still very common to see vast expanses of villages in Africa and South-east Asia lying in darkness as cheap electricity has yet to reach them. It is in these villages that the latest developments for renewable energy generators are tested as these poor villages need them the most. The benefit to the 1st world is that these advances and experiments will translate into more powerful and efficient wind and solar generators down the road.

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Defining What Off The Grid Means For You

Posted on 18th June 2011 by Greg Masterson in General information

According to common knowledge, going off the grid means giving up on state-owned public utilities (such as water, electricity, natural gas, and sewers). Although the reasons for going this route can be different for many people, the primary reasons can be classified as follows:

Economic reasons: There are times when going off the grid is more economical than opting for public utilities. This may be because of the distance of the home from the main water and electricity generating hubs or the general utility of the dwelling. For people living in remote areas or in third world countries, alternative energy generation is more of a necessity than an option. Most of the time, holiday homes, river homes, or log houses do not have access to public power and water lines to keep the overall cost of maintenance down. Since these houses are inhabited only for a few weeks in a year, the occupants draw water from nearby water resources such wells, lakes, streams, or rivers and indigenously generate whatever little electricity they may require.
Environmental reasons: At a time when “saving the planet” and “going green” seem to be the buzzword, a lot of the pop culture is adopting this mantra. Living in eco-friendly homes are a surefire way to win environmental brownie points. Homes generate their own power and electricity from renewable sources such as the sun and wind, rather than being dependent on non-renewable sources such as fossil fuel.

Some think that producing your own electricity means living a minimalist lifestyle without the comforts of modern living. While others who do live off their own power tell you that you do not have to give up anything, the wonderful thing about renewable energy is that when you have the proper power systems in place, you can live your dream lifestyle on free power.

Again, contrary to popular belief, producing your own electricity doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. With the help of some readily available guidebooks and manuals, one can make their home or property free of the oppressive grid and in the process save yourself thousands of dollars. The first step is the most critical and that is to identify and locate the various components that you will need to set up the renewable energy power system.

In order to put together your very own hand made electrical power system for your home, it would be useful to go through the classified section of newspapers or websites like Craigslist or Ebay and see if someone is selling the parts you need for cheap. If not, many of the items you need are readily available in consumer electronics and electrical stores. Some arts and crafts stores carry power cells for your use.

The hardest part of putting together your own system is finding the PV cells needed. These collect and convert energy from your solar panels and turbines.

One needs to remember that being energy independent actually means combining one or more sources of renewable energy generation and that each of them should complement each other. As you start to build your own power generating system, you’ll find that it gets easier to build and expand on that system.

Before embarking on your quest for free and independent power, you should understand the advantages and disadvantages of both solar and wind power. Solar panels are are economical, easy to setup, easy to manage, and generates large amounts of energy. The drawback is it can only work when the sun is out. If it gets cloudy or rainy, you might end up with no hot water for your morning shave. Similarly, wind generators are tricky to set up but once they are up and running, they can produce plenty of energy. Their disadvantage is also their dependence on the moods of nature. Motor magnet generators however, are free from any such natural dependencies. Yet they are not very popular because they are not able to generate as much energy as solar panels or wind turbines.

Should you decide to get off the grid, know that clean, independent power is yours for the taking but it will require a lot of knowledge and effort on your part to get it.

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General Tips For Installing A Solar Panel On Your House

Posted on 17th June 2011 by Greg Masterson in Solar powered articles

Ever considered living off the grid? Now what does that actually mean? The concept of this may mean different things to different people depending on their perception. For some it may be opting for a simple standard of living without any materialistic extravagances. But on the other hand, there are those that see this as a symbol of self-sufficiency and true independence.

Advancements in renewable energy technologies are opening the eyes of millions of people worldwide to the possibilities of achieving self sufficiency through various methods of infinite power generation. Initially, these techs only served industrial and big governmental purposes and were not within the reach of regular individuals due to expensive equipment and installation costs. But now with miniaturization and improved material costs, the tech to create your own solar or wind power generator is now within affordable price ranges for all who seek it. For a house to be completely self-sufficient, there needs to be a combination of various independent systems for self-sustained living. For instance, rain water harvesting can be done for clean water, in addition to self-generated power such as wind mill energy. What we are going to look at today is the use of solar energy for these purposes.

In remote areas where public utilities are not an option, use of such renewable sources of energy are necessities.

In urban areas, public power is an issue although some people scoff at the price of power. Solar panels for your homes are fast gaining popularity due to their cost effectiveness. Nowadays, with the middle man out of the picture, individuals can obtain the equipment and machinery necessary to go off the grid on their own. This contributes to lower costs. It is commonly known that self-producing energy homes are not a complete ripoff. With increased popularity in such power systems, affordable and reliable handbooks can provide the necessary information to obtain the types of materials and plans needed to build them quickly and efficiently.

Apart from being light on your pocketbook, these methods that lay the path to going off grid can also help to conserve mother nature. Most people who rely on public utilities for power make use of exhaustible sources of fuel. These non-renewable resources are fast depleting and this necessitates the need to find alternative energy. Building solar panels for your homes are a small step towards addressing this problem. Not only is this good for the nature but also will save people money and provide electricity for normal living.

The inexhaustible energy of the sun can be effectively used by certain high-efficient power cells that will convert this sun energy into usable electricity. Combined with a solar powered system, you can then refocus this energy into your power generator. The most commonly used solar generators are:

Solar cells:

Solar cells are the PV cells that help to convert the solar energy into electric energy directly. This electric energy can be used immediately or stored for further use. The solar panels that everyone uses are basically an array or collection of these solar cells.

Solar water heaters:

Solar water heaters are very common, especially in the UK, and have been installed by many homeowners. This can be a cost effective way to produce electricity. These heaters heat the water stored in its glass panels and are mounted on the rooftops of your house. The water is then used for household purposes. The solar water heater helps to save on a lot of the costs associated with heating water and homes via traditional boilers. The installation of solar water heaters can be very beneficial and economical to you.

Solar Furnaces:

Solar furnaces are still in the prototype stages of development and will take some time to become more usable by the masses. Solar furnaces can be used for cooking or heating water. The ones that are present today are not very efficient and take a lot of time to work which makes them impractical.

Going “green” and producing your own power is fast becoming a trend. The rate at which natural resources are being depleted is alarming. Doing something to preserve these resources has been a collective effort although sooner or later these efforts will fail. Every person needs to do his bit to find alternative energy. One method of helping to solve this problem is to invest in multiple solar panels to generate electricity. Once you as an individual invest the time, effort, and money to going green one way, more ways to go off the grid start coming to you automatically. These people go on to become completely independent and do not have to rely on public utilities for any of their home needs. Once the first step is taken towards freedom, you will never go back.

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A Summary Of Different Types Of Panels You Can Make

Posted on 17th June 2011 by Greg Masterson in Solar powered articles

Choice of solar panels for your home

The use of solar energy with the use of your solar panels for your home is becoming more and more popular with the awareness of its benefits amongst people increasing day by day. These solar panels transform the solar energy from the sun into usable electric power. Apart from being cost effective for people they also help in creating a pollution free environment. The technological innovations in this industry are bringing in different types of solar panels for your home and as a result, have different ranges of efficiency and pricing. The availability of these photovoltaic panels at affordable rates makes it easy for anyone to have these solar panels for their personal use to fulfil their day to day needs. In the long run, these prove to be economical for the people and help save money wasted on expensive public utility power.

There is a wide range of solar panels available for household purposes. These are priced differently. What brings in the price difference is the way these solar panels are made, their degree of efficiency and their power generating capacities. Generally, solar panels give an electricity return rate of around five to fifteen percent. The higher the return rate, the higher the cost of these panels. Solar panels need to be selected based upon the energy requirements for personal use as well as the location of the house. They are mounted in such a way that they get maximum exposure to the sun since they work at full capacity when placed properly. Solar panels for your home mainly come in four different types that are easily available to the market. These are:

1) Monocrystalline Silicon Panels

2) Polycrystalline Silicon Panels

3) String Ribbon Silicon Panels

4) Amorphous Silicon Panels.

Monocrystalline Silicon Panels

Monocrystalline panels also known as the single-crystal solar panels are made up of silicon. The Monocrystalline silicon panels have a better conductivity of electricity as they are made from one continuous sheet of silicon with pieces of metal nailed at the edges. The electricity return rate of these solar panels range from 12 percent to 14 percent. These solar panels for your home were the first to be introduced into the marketplace. They are the most dependable amongst the lot. Efficiency wise they are the best. Because of their high power generation capacity they are the first choice in houses that have space constraints. The standard 175 watt panel that is available is about 63 inches long, 31 inches wide, about an inch thick, and weigh almost 33 pounds. The minimum lifespan of the monocrystalline solar panels is about twenty-five years and can go well above fifty. So in the long run, these solar panels for home prove to be a great investment.

Polycrystalline Silicon Panels

Polycrystalline silicon solar panels are made up of multi-crystals and stand below the monocrystalline panels in terms of efficiency. Their electricity rate of return averages out to 12 percent to 14 percent, just like the monocrystalline panels. These panels are made of multiple individual PV cells that contain metal conducting materials nailed to its edges.

These Polycrystalline silicon solar panels are very cheap to produce and so they are usually high on many people’s shoppers list. The maintenance cost of these panels is also quite low as compared to that of the monocrystalline solar panels and they are equally durable. Considering the prices of these panels, and cheaper cost of maintenance, these solar panels are a great option for those who can’t afford the mono version. The downside to polychrystalline panels is that they do not last beyond 25 years though you can try to.

String Ribbon Silicon Panels

String ribbon silicon panels have an electricity retrun rate of 12-14%, just like mono and polycrystalline panels. They are built the same way as polycrystalline solar panels. The main difference, however, is that instead of being built with individual PV cells, they are made up of silicon strips. These strips function in the same manner as PV cells. The production cost of these strips are slightly lower than the cells so the cost of building string ribbon silicon panels are lower.

Amorphous Silicon Panels

Amorphous silicon solar panels stand at the bottom of the list of available solar panels to buy due to their low electricity return rate. The rate of return on these solar panels range from a measly 5-6 percent. The reason for this is the material used for making these panels. These panels are not made up of crystalline silicon. Instead, the material used is a semi-conductive metal such as copper. The production cost of these panels is very low due to the use of cheaper materials but it comes at the cost of lower quality, durability, energy production output, and efficiency.

So when you are buying solar panels for your home, it is always better to consider the cost per kilowatt over the lifespan of each panel you consider. If costs are not an issue for you, take into consideration how much fixed power you absolutely must have. The right kind of solar panels needed should be based on your own individual needs.

Solar panels for your home can turn out to be a good investment for you and your family in the long run where the returns on your money can be the nonexistence of electricity bills. Apart from being good for your pocketbook, solar panels are a great way to do your bit for nature and environment, since these produce energy without creating any kind of pollution or waste. Technological advancement is continuously trying to bring down the costs of these methods of energy production. The cost of installing solar panels for your home has gone down by as much as 40 percent over the past few years. This trend will likely continue. This in turn will make it affordable for most people to set up such systems when it use to be that only big corporations and government had access to this cool stuff.

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Personal Power Generation = Freedom

Posted on 15th June 2011 by Greg Masterson in General information

Create Your Own Personal Energy: Go Off the Grid

This concept of going off the grid is becoming popular everyday as people are realizing that with the advancements in modern alternate energy generation, it becomes a lot easier and economical to set up their very own power system. The developments in the household energy engineering industry has brought these once complicated and expensive devices to common households.

This technology was available at first to large-scale retail franchises such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, and BJ’s but the technology was later improved and made cheaper to replicate.

As I said earlier, the number of alternative energy homes are increasing every day. There are primarily two types of renewable and sustainable energy resources that are chosen by individual homeowners and those types are residential solar panels or wind generators. Another form of renewable energy, which is also gaining popularity, is magnet motor energy. Unfortunately, it has been proven that so far magnet motors do not produce meaningful energy and caution should be advised when buying “magnet motor” energy kits (they are scams). An alternative was needed to substitute solar panels and wind generators because not everyone has the natural surroundings needed to produce power from these two devices. While motor magnet energy can be set up and used to generate electricity anywhere, its current downfall is that it produces a very negligible amount of power.

It has been proven now that an energy independent home does not need to cost a fortune. One also needs to bear in mind the advantages and disadvantages of each method of power generation. The magnetic motor generator is a good system to use for the generation of portable energy but it does not generate as much power as solar panels or wind generators. Solar panels on the other hand provide the right parity of cost and convenience, yet their drawback is that they are extremely dependent on having a lot of sunlight to function. Wind generators are easy and economical to setup but improper installation of the wind tower can cause it to fall over or be destroyed. If you’re looking to power something small, like a night light or batteries, a magnetic motor may be the best choice for you. If you need large scale power, then a solar panel or wind turbine is the better choice.

There has been a lot of talk lately about going green, however, it has unfortunately become political. People on the left push for green energy and green environment to mean that they should be allowed to cap and trade pollutants while raising taxes to fund government-sponsored green companies like Solyndra. The right claims that government malfeasance is the cause of America being behind in the green revolution and that the free market should decide how to advance this technology. Whatever you may believe, know that living off the grid will require better technological advancements to produce more electricity efficiently.

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Want 100% Self-Sufficiency?

Posted on 2nd August 2010 by Greg Masterson in General information

Knowing how to completely get off the grid is more crucial these days than ever before, given that energy sources derived from fossil fuels (oil, gasoline, shale, natural gas, etc) is becoming more pricey with every passing year. Sooner or later, this planet is going to run out of oil and other non-renewable energy sources, to be honest, and this is why some people consider learning about how to create or generate their own renewable energy or power through self-replenishing electricity systems for their own home.

A possible way to start getting off the local power company’s grid (an electrical network owned by a business that provides or supplies generated power to homes and other businesses, aka the “grid”) is to look at energy created through wind power turbines. Specifically, through the turning of a windmill’s blades. This then turns a turbine which powers a generator to produce electricity.

The electricity made by windmills is stepped down or otherwise configured for use in the home which is directly hooked up to the wind turbine tower(s). The great things about these wind farm systems is that it’s quite simple to create. Most of the basic windmill parts including the AC/DC converters can be procured for less than a hundred dollars, provided that you are willing to manually install the equipment altogether yourself.

Another excellent way to become energy independent is to invest in one or multiple solar panels, which are a little more expensive up front but can potentially produce the same amount of power without being nearly as bulky as wind turbines. The money you save on your electric bill can be significant. Modern advancements in solar panel technology make use of new and improved photovoltaic cells that have improved in efficiency of their capture and conversion of solar energy from the sun to electrical energy.

These home systems make great use of renewable electricity to create power. Most homes typically have a home backup battery system which stores any unused power you create for later use. The redundancy also allows for you to keep your home powered in case your generators go out for some reason and you fix the problem to get them back online. Depending on how much extra power you feel you need to store, you can easily install more of these batteries. My recommendation would be to install them in a safe, dry area like a flood-proof basement or a foundation-sound second floor. Your energy savings will go up if you install such batteries, especially multiple ones.

Once you understand the power of how to completely get off the grid, via wind power or solar power, you will discover that it becomes a lot easier find other ways to “go green, ” and become even more independent, all the while helping to keep this planet healthy. The importance of these self-generated power systems cannot be overstated. They allow you to obtain free, clean power which contributes to cutting back on the use of fossil fuels, reduce the reliance on 3rd party power electricity companies, reduce reliance on foreign oil, help Earth stay clean, and save yourself bundles of cash.

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