Whether you choose to live off-grid to cut down on expenses or as preparation for a worst-case scenario, you should minimize your reliance on public utilities. In this article, we list the ways that you can generate your own electricity.
- Solar Energy
Using solar panels isn’t new to those who want to or have no choice but to get their power off-grid. What is new is that there are more high-tech ways to power your off-grid home via solar energy. One of the newest technologies in solar initiatives is solar shingles. You can still use large, bulky, unattractive solar panels in your home, or you can attach solar shingles to your roof. You can use the power directly or store it in a battery for later use. The drawback of this method is that it can be very expensive if you choose the shingles. Conventional solar panels are cheaper, but can still be costly.
- Wind Energy
There are commercially available wind turbines that generate about 400 Watts, enough to power a few small appliances. To power a small house, you’ll have to get one that can generate at least 900 Watts. Harnessing the wind and generating electricity with it is feasible as long as your off-grid home is in a place with plenty of strong winds. Before you consider this option, contact the local weather service and find out about the average wind speed in your area.
Remember that a wind turbine will need some maintenance and occasional inspection, as it does have a number of moving parts. You’ll also have to install them a minimum of 7 feet off the ground to be truly efficient. If you don’t like the idea of becoming completely self-reliant, you can move to an area that supports your off-grid lifestyle, such as Navajo county, which has its own wind energy.
- Micro Hydropower
Another way of generating your own power is by harnessing the kinetic energy of fast-moving water. The concept is simple: water that flows downstream turns the fins of a turbine to generate electricity. This can be the most cost-effective option if your off-grid home is located close to a running stream or river. There are companies that have scaled-down this technology, which has been used since it was first invented in 1882. It’s highly feasible to build a scaled-down hydropower plant on your property—as long as the water’s current is fast enough and the river or stream doesn’t dry up.
- Leg Power
If you’re the athletic type and/or need to work out, this option for generating your off-grid electricity can be a win-win situation. You’ll need some electrical know-how to hook up an old bicycle to a generator and charge some batteries. By pedaling on the bicycle for an hour or so, you can create enough charge for batteries to run some of your appliances. You can see an example of that here.
Thanks to advances in technology, there are more ways to power your home when you go off-grid. Don’t rely on your own knowledge, and get information about viable alternative energy sources from other people who similarly went the off-grid path. When you have enough info, choose the method or methods that’ll work best with your home’s site, location, and budget.