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.
