Choosing an energy supply source may be the most difficult choice any new off the grid home dweller will make. Installation of a solar energy system tends to be a little costly and you want to make sure the energy supply system you choose will easily provide you with enough energy to live comfortably in your off the grid home. Luckily, there are a number of options you can choose from to supply your home with plenty of energy and many of these systems come in kits for easy installation.
Many off the grid homes will utilize at least two different energy sources to run major appliances and for limited lighting production. Veteran off the grid dwellers would also highly recommended that you have an emergency back-up generator available in case of severe weather or damage to your existing energy supply system. In this chapter will cover some of the most common energy supplying systems and some not so common methods. Here you will be provided with many options to consider for the best system that will fit your personal daily needs.
METHOD 16 - Calculate Your Power Wattage-
Before you look into energy supply systems you will want to calculate how much power you will need. By figuring out how much energy you anticipate using everyday or throughout the week will give you a better idea of which of the energy supply system will better fit you power needs. When thinking of building your own off the grid home or buying one you will want to figure out how much power will be needed to function your home from the appliances to heating usage.
Knowing how many watts you will use in a day and week can greatly help you in determining what kind off power supply would be best suited to power your home. To do this you will want to think clearly about the appliances you will use on a regular daily basis and for how long you will be running each appliance. Beginning the calculating process you will want to think of the days you will use the most energy and factor in how the weather may or may not affect your energy supply.
Every off the grid homes are powered by natural elements like the wind or sun preparing yourself to take into consideration that the weather is often unpredictable and you could be without power if not thought out clearly. Many off the grid homes implement two types of energy supply one from natural elements and a set of energy preserving batteries. In the next chapter we will discuss the many option you have when choosing a power supply source.
METHOD 17 - Roof top Solar Energy Panels-
Roof top panels are becoming a common installation not just for the off the grid homeowners but many city and suburban homes also. You can easily have solar panels installed on the roof of your home to supply energy to the home as well as let in natural light and use the sun's light to heat your home. The panels need to be installed on the south or southwest side of the home for better efficiency and you will want to be sure the amount of sunlight you will be receiving is worth the price of installing the solar powers on your roof.
You will want to make sure any surrounding trees will not shade the solar panels also. If you live in an area that gets a consistent supply of sunlight for about five hours a day then solar panels on your roof could be a good investment. Solar rooftop panels can be a highly effective way to supply your home with all the energy it will need to function throughout the day but on cloudy or in the later evening hours you will need another way to operate your home.
METHOD 18 - Free Standing Solar Panels-
If you are planning on purchasing an already built off the grid home and do not want to spend the additional money to replace your existing roof with solar panels there are many kits available for free standing solar power systems. Unlike the rooftop panels these freestanding panels are constructed away from the home. They are hooked up to a battery supply also that allows you save or conserve the power for later use.
Free standing solar power panels are can be a convenient options to those individuals who would much rather have their home in a shaded area to cut back on cooling cost and can set these panels up a little bit further away from their home in the direct sunlight. Even if you do not want to commit to living fully off the lid these free standing panels can be implemented by individuals living on the grid also. Installing freestanding solar panels can greatly cut back on your monthly electricity and other utility bills on any home.
Just like with rooftop solar panels this type of solar energy supply is a great option for any off the grid homes located in areas that will receive a good amount of sunshine. They however also, can only supply energy to your home effectively during the day and if it is not overcast or cloudy. These freestanding panels also need to be installed so that the panels are in a southward facing direction.
METHOD 19 - Deep Cycle Batteries-
Deep cycle batteries are rechargeable batteries that are usually used in connection with another power source. They effectively charge from the other energy supplying source and can store up this energy that can then later be used when needed. When installing these battery packs that can usually be bought in a kit with you other energy supply option, you will want store the deep cycle battery packs in a naturally ventilated, cool place and shielded from any possible weather elements.
METHOD 20 - Wind Powered Electricity-
Wind power is a great energy provider if the area you are living in receives a good amount of wind and at consistent speeds. It is however a little tricky to calculate if the area you want to begin building your sustainable off the grid home in will provide enough wind to produce electricity because wind can differ in every area depending on the land layout. You can easily get a better idea of how effective a wind powered energy source will be for your home by contacting a wind successor. You can also contact the local agriculture extension office. By doing a little research of the land and area you will easily be able to determine if a wind powered energy supply system will benefit you.
There are a few different sized wind turbines that you can choose from to power your home. The smaller one is about a four foot diameter rotor. This sized turbine, which is supplies around 400 watts, can generate enough energy to power a few appliances in your home. There is also a seven foot diameter rotor. This seven foot rotor is one of the most commonly used wind turbines that can effectively power the entire home. In most cases this sized turbine can supply around 10,00 watts of energy to your home. These wind turbines can also come in a larger size but are not practical to use since they can be up to 100 feet high.
Unlike with solar panels wind converting energy system can run all hours of the day and thorough the night. Wind generators require more maintenance since they have more moving parts than solar panels and may need to be turned or adjusted frequently when the wind direction changes.
METHOD 21 - Micro Hydro Power System-
Micro hydro energy supply system are not a commonly known or utilized way to produce energy for your off the grid home. These systems require a consistent water flow to power your home. Even though it is a more uncommonly used system it is the most effective and if your water source is constant it can supply you with power all day and through the night.
Although this is a highly effective way to supply your off the grid home with an energy source you need to consider the temperatures you will experience while living in you home. If the climate you live in will have temperatures that drop below freezing this may not be the best options since you water source will most likely freeze. If you live in dry and humid climates that you run the risk of the water source diminishing throughout the hotter parts of the year. You could easily implement the micro hydro power system as well as one of the other energy power supple systems mentioned as a back up for when the water source is not significant enough to supple you with energy.