Go Off Grid...Your Very Own Renewable Energy

The Sun and Wind Your Only Choices

There are legitimate reasons to go off grid. Anyone who lives in very rural or remote areas, knows to well about the advantages and disadvantages of going off grid. The costs of local utilities are so high, in most cases it is not a question of going green but rather a purely financial one. Whatever your reason for researching off grid power, your options have now turned green. Solar and/or wind energy are the only options available in this case. Your best bet is solar, unless the area you are looking into is a windy one. Even in that case, I still recommend that solar power be your main source of off grid energy. Did you know that the small amount that hits your roof, greatly surpasses all the energy that is transported through the utility company electric wires? That is the reason many people who have switched over to solar power, either go off grid, or sell back to the utility companies for a profit. It is for that reason, installation of a proper system can more than handle all your electricity needs.

There is a reason I prefer solar to wind, when it comes to household energy requirements. Both solar panels and wind turbine rotors are considered to be a form of a collector. Naturally one can see that the area of just one solar panel is much greater than the surface of a small wind rotor with a number of blades that rotate to turn the electrical generator. While both offer a renewable non- polluting source of energy, it should be noted that solar has no moving parts to break down, and requires very little maintenance. To properly access wind flow and generate enough electricity, wind turbines are installed on high towers that rise above any trees or surrounding buildings. It is advisable to get your neighbors permission before installing such a structure. For whatever reason you chose not to have a high enough tower, it won’t matter when it comes to generating adequate energy. It is better not to install a wind turbine in the first place, rather than to not have it high enough. There is simply little energy in low winds that you can convert into usable electricity.

The Sun Will Always Shine

Off Grid Solar Is the Future
Today we are finally realizing that the future of the Earth depends on weaning mankind off of petroleum and other fossil fuels. Here is another fact that will astound you. The entire total of fossil fuels on Earth can be matched by the solar energy output of the sun on Earth, in less than three days. It is not politics and greed alone that has kept us from pursuing solar energy until recent times. The technology for home solar has greatly improved. It started in the mid 1970's, with the advancements in Photovoltaic applications. Photovoltaic, also referred to as PV, is according to Wikipedia, the field of technology and research related to the application of solar cells for energy by converting solar energy (sunlight, including ultra violet radiation) directly into electricity. The development of transistor and accompanying semiconductor technology, has drastically increased photovoltaic power and efficiency. Today, commonly available solar panels are 12% efficient, which is four times greater than only a few years ago.

Another very important aspect is that contrary to most contractors’ misconception it is not a difficult installation. An average home has more than enough roof area to produce enough solar electricity to supply all of its power needs. All that is needed is an inverter, which converts direct current (DC) power from the solar cells to alternating current (AC), which are what most home appliances run on. A solar home, except for the obvious changes to the roof, will look and operate just like any home does when it was connected to the power line.

Let the Sun Free You From the Grid

Do-It- Yourself and Save
There is another misconception that needs clearing up. You should know is that contrary to popular belief, residential solar installation is very affordable. You don’t need to hire a builder or solar contractor, which could run you tens of thousands of dollars. With the correct instruction and guidance you can do-it-yourself. You must be careful however, because many instructional books and guides are confusing and have complicated diagrams. So before getting started you must find the correct step-by-step instructions. You don't need to be a builder. Anybody can make solar panels. It's really quite easy to make solar panels once you know a few industry secrets. You must make sure that the guide you chose has step by step instruction, detailed diagrams, plenty of pictures and video teaching aids.

So how much will it actually cost to make your own solar panels? You can, with the right instruction, build your solar panels for less than $200 each. I suggest that if you don’t have the time or you’re just not willing to put in the effort, you can hire a couple of competent handy men to implement the project, and still save thousands. Real people, not corporations, have come up with efficient and extremely affordable programs that walk you through step by step instructions, on how to build and install renewable energy for your home.

My own extensive research has helped me narrow down the best of the best instructional guides, complete with blueprints, photos, and in the case of my number one choice, video for that do-it-yourself solar power and/or wind turbine project you might be considering. Obviously, I can’t go into great detail in this article, but if I have piqued your interest, you can get all the facts of this or many other ideas on how to go green at my site Possibly GREEN. There you’ll find the right ways to live a greener life, including information on how to convert your car inexpensively, and even find green jobs in your area.

Renewable Energy...Make the Sun and Wind Work for You

Mankind is Addicted to Fossil Fuel


As a nation we have had our chances to promote alternative energy in the past. For mostly political and financial reasons
we have been left with, petroleum and its derivatives, natural gas, and coal, as our energy choices, with natural gas being the only so called clean alternative. Almost every attempt to break from the grasp of fossil fuels has been met with extreme opposition. From the beginning politics and greed has molded our future in regards to energy.

When Henry Ford's Model T was first built, it came in a variation that allowed the driver to switch the carburetor to run the engine on farm-made ethyl alcohol. Most farms at that time were equipped with stills so this allowed the driver to refuel when needed. This did not sit well with John D. Rockefeller, who had even backed Ford financially. His Standard Oil Company had a monopoly on gasoline and he wanted all automobiles to run on it. Ford and the rest of the industry just wanted to sell their autos to everyone, and the most readily available fuel was distilled alcohol. What Rockefeller did next was brilliant. His actions however, would change the entire history of not just the United States but the entire world, leading to the energy and security problems of today.

Rockefeller saw an opportunity to take advantage of the Alcohol Temperance Movement that had been trying to limit the use of alcohol for more than 25 years. He gave the equivalent of $60million in today's dollars to an obscure group pushing for the complete elimination of alcohol called the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Rockefeller took a stand against alcohol and turned what was essentially a local effort to curb consumption into a national movement that eventually led to prohibition. He made sure that the bill included anything distilled, alcoholic or not. Thus making sure that all vehicles would run on his gasoline. His greed has brought us to where we are today.

You Can Harness the Power of the Sun and Wind

Our Future Must Be a Clean One
Today we are finally realizing that the future of the Earth depends on weaning mankind off of petroleum and other fossil fuels. So does alternative energy make sense for the average household? Only you can decide what is right for you. Determine how much your energy bill is and how cost effective a renewable energy system will cost. I can tell you that regardless of what you have heard, or even have been quoted, solar and/or wind is more affordable than you think. I will cover that shortly, but first, let us explore the advantages and disadvantages of installing a workable renewable energy system.

The obvious reason for considering solar is fact that it is a renewable non- polluting source of energy. You should also know that it has no moving parts to break down, and requires very little maintenance. Another very important aspect is that contrary to most contractors’ misconception it is not a difficult installation. For those of you who live or are considering living in extremely remote or rural areas if electricity is available it is usually expensive. In those cases solar power is undoubtedly the right way to go. However, even in areas where power lines are nearby, solar may still be a viable alternative to being connected to a power company. An average home has more than enough roof area to produce enough solar electricity to supply all of its power needs. All that is needed is an inverter, which converts direct current (DC) power from the solar cells to alternating current (AC), which are what most home appliances run on. A solar home, except for the obvious changes to the roof, will look and operate just like any home does when it was connected to the power line.


Small wind turbines are designed for individual homes, farms, and small businesses, and are electric generators that utilize wind energy to produce clean, emissions-free renewable power. They are defined as having rated capacities of up to 100 kilowatts. So if you were thinking that one wind generator will power your house, I’m sorry but it won’t. Keep in mind that the wind turbine is simply a collector just like a solar panel is. In this case the collector is the spinning rotor, made up of a number of blades that rotate to turn the electrical generator. Small blades result in a small rotor diameter, which translates into a small collector area, which further translates into small amounts of generated electricity.

To properly access wind flow and generate enough electricity, wind turbines are installed on high towers that rise above any trees or surrounding buildings. Your roof top might not be the right place unless a tower is utilized. It is advisable to get your neighbors permission before installing such a structure. For whatever reason you chose not to have a high enough tower, it won’t matter when it comes to generating adequate energy. It is better not to install a wind turbine in the first place, rather than to not have it high enough. There is simply little energy in low winds that you can convert into usable electricity.

The Cost Cannot be to Great

Do-It-Yourself and Save
The cost of both solar and wind power installation can run into the tens of thousands if left in the hands of contractors. I mentioned a viable option that will save you tens of thousands of dollars. I am referring to making this a do-it-yourself project. There are kits available that will cut your cost in half. Even better than that there are online instructional guides that will walk you through the entire process step by step. For those of you who don’t have either the time or the inclination to do it all yourself, I might suggest that you take advantage of the current work shortage by hiring a couple of competent handymen to construct the entire project. I bet with the right instructions, you could bring it in for a tenth of the original estimate.

My own extensive research has helped me narrow down the best of the best instructional guides, complete with blueprints, photos, for that do-it-yourself wind and/or solar power project you might be considering. Obviously, I can’t go into great detail in this article, but if I have piqued your interest, you can get all the facts of this or many other ideas on how to go green at my site
Possibly GREEN. There you’ll find the right ways to live a greener life, including information on how to convert your car inexpensively, and even find green jobs in your area.

Wind Energy...More Than Affordable for the Home

Wind Turbine Offers Another Clean Alternative

The first usage of wind power dates back more than three thousand years. Windmills, which we all know from literature, were used primarily in the west between 1300 and the late 1800's. None of this means anything to the modern homeowner, considering a wind turbine as a possible alternative energy source, however. What you do need to know is that wind power is not as expensive to impalement as you might think. This may sound funny, but you must determine first, if it is windy enough where you live, to justify a wind turbine. Many use wind power as a back up to solar, while still others use them both in conjunction, as an alternative energy package.

Just how much energy can a wind turbine produce? Again, we must determine how windy it is where you are planning to install it. This is not a question about whether it is ever windy where you live, it is probably windy during storms, but that is merely an observation about the weather. What you want to know about is the long-term average wind speed for your area, or historic climate data, not day-to-day weather. Obviously it will produce a greater amount of energy the more the small turbine spins.

So what exactly is a small wind turbine. They are designed for individual homes, farms, and small businesses, and are electric generators that utilize wind energy to produce clean, emissions-free renewable power. They are defined as having rated capacities of up to 100 kilowatts. So if you were thinking that one wind generator will power your house, I’m sorry but it won’t. Keep in mind that the wind turbine is simply a collector just like a solar panel is. In this case the collector is the spinning rotor, made up of a number of blades that rotate to turn the electrical generator. Small blades result in a small rotor diameter, which translates into a small collector area, which further translates into small amounts of generated electricity.

Positioning is Very Important

It Must Be High Enough to Catch the Wind
To properly access the wind flow and generate enough electricity, wind turbines are installed on high towers that rise above any trees or surrounding buildings. Your roof top might not be the right place unless a tower is utilized. It is advisable to get your neighbors permission before installing such a structure. For whatever reason you chose not to have a high enough tower, it won’t matter when it comes to generating adequate energy. It is better not to install a wind turbine in the first place, rather than to not have it high enough. There is simply little energy in low winds that you can convert into usable electricity.

Is it better to have many wind turbines or one larger one? To answer this question, you first have to determine what it is exactly that you plan to power. Are we talking about an all electric home, or perhaps one that uses other energy sources such as natural gas? Considering that most homes do have more than one energy source, the average household consumes about 1,000 kWh of electricity per month, or about 12,000 kWh per year. Depending on your wind resource and the tower height required to get the wind turbine above the trees, a wind system designed to generate that kind of electric capacity would have to have a very large rotor. The price tag could easily exceed $50,000.00 to install. Another option could be to have multiple smaller turbines. This of course would depend on the space you have available to erect the amount of towers needed.

Smaller is Better

Limiting the Size Can Be Very Cost Effective
Even if you decided to go with several smaller wind turbines, the cost could still run you about $12-$15,000. Yes it is a far cry from $50,000, but it is still a pretty penny. Depending of course what your electric bill is currently, you must determine how long it will take to pay for it. There is of course another option that, depending on your situation, can save you thousands of dollars. I am referring to making this a do-it-yourself project. There are kits available that will cut your cost in half. Even better than that there are online instructional guides that will walk you through the entire process step by step. Small wind turbine system can be constructed for literally pennies on the dollar in this manner.
For those of you who don’t have either the time or the inclination to do it all yourself, I might suggest that you take advantage of the current work shortage by hiring a couple of competent handymen to construct the entire project. I bet with the right instructions, you could bring it in for a tenth of the original estimate.

My own extensive research has helped me narrow down the best of the best instructional guides, complete with blueprints, photos, for that do-it-yourself wind and/or solar power project you might be considering. Obviously, I can’t go into great detail in this article, but if I have piqued your interest, you can get all the facts of this or many other ideas on how to go green at my site
Possibly GREEN. There you’ll find the right ways to live a greener life, including information on how to convert your car inexpensively, and even find green jobs in your area.