Bridging the Gap Between Going Off The Grid and Surviving

Going off grid with solar--and batteries

Living Off the Grid in Style: An Interview with Super-Homesteader Jane Dawson

I am not really sure what is happening in this country. Five years ago the economy was incredibly strong, the housing marketing was doing very well and most people had equity in their homes.

 Like a great many people you probably bought your house while the market was on that upswing anticipating that it would continue to increase in value. And it did for a while but the economy tanked. I don't know about you, blaming the politicians is fun and it makes us feel better, but there comes a point when we have to take matters into our own hands. I needed to start saving money, like now! I can't wait for things to turn around. That's why I made the decision to learn how to build solar panels.

I looked into the cost of buying panels for my home and I just couldn't afford them. I work hard. I don't spend more than I earn. I am not different than most people. I have accepted that the economy might not change or bounce back. But quite honestly, I don't want to take the plunge to go off grid entirely. I like my life. I don't like paying through the nose for my electricity. Once I learned how to make solar panels and install them myself, my bill went down. Most months I don't even owe a dime on the bill and some months I get money back from the power company. This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't learned how to build solar panels and learned how to save energy. I was like you, living paycheck to paycheck.

Home Panel Solar Politics

After recently reading a New York Times article, we started thinking about home panel solar politics. You see, although solar power is gaining popularity as a renewable energy solution for home, it will never become mainstream without the backing from the federal government.
A poll by the Nuclear Power Industry revealed that the number one choice for generating power was not from nuclear, coal or natural gas, but from solar energy. However, at the time the poll was taken solar only provided for about 0.01 percent of America's power supply. Solar power is popular, but there's not enough investment!

In Washington, where the energy policies are signed, solar power lobbyists generally work with small budgets in the tens of thousands of dollars. Now when you compare it to the tens of millions of dollars that nuclear, coal, gas and oil lobbyists have available, you can only guess which energy policies gain approval by our beloved politicians.

Buying Solar Panels - 3 Money-Saving Secrets

Everyone's starting to jump onto the bandwagon of using solar energy because it is believed to be the answer to the worsening energy crisis worldwide. But don't you think every thinking person must dig deeper first and know whether there are possible dangers in using these panels? Or at least be aware of the possible negative aspects of purchasing them? In this article, let us explore the possible drawbacks of patronizing this innovation. After all, buying solar panels is not like buying light bulbs.

1) Materials- Newer thin solar panels are made from materials which are harmful to the environment. Although they will not create any problem until you dispose the system (which is probably in the next two decades or so), it is imperative that you know they can cause trouble to the planet you are trying to save. Currently, new disposal and even recycling methods are being developed. Hopefully, these methods would become feasible by the time you need to dispose your solar panels.

Green Energy Defined

What is Green Energy?

   Green Energy is a form of electricity that originates from a process or manner that has a less negative impact to the environment than other energy sources. Fossil fuels, one example of an energy produced with a harmful side effect to the environment.
What are the types of green energy?
There are few green energy types which includes solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear and hydroelectric. Let us differentiate them to understand their distinction.