| Do you know what you need to do to really get | | | | change? |
| off the grid? | | | | Here are some things you can do: |
| There is a lot of attention these days to making | | | | - use a clothes line instead of your electric clothes |
| your own electricity and getting off the grid. | | | | dryer |
| I am going to break these down so you know | | | | - replace electric heat with propane gas heat or |
| more about this subject. | | | | natural gas |
| You can make your own electricity and you can | | | | - replace electric stove with a gas stove |
| get off the grid, but do you know the investment | | | | - replace normal lights with fluorescent lights |
| needed? | | | | - butane clothes iron |
| For example, if you wanted to implement solar | | | | - gas fridge |
| power for your home and get off the grid, you | | | | When you are making your own electricity and |
| would have to generate a substantial amount of | | | | are off the grid, you do not have endless power. |
| power. | | | | If you use it all up, you are out of power, till the |
| Appliances like your dryer, microwave, fridge and | | | | sun or wind or you recharge your battery bank |
| toaster (to name a few) take substantial | | | | with the aid of a generator. |
| electricity to operate. | | | | Simple things like turning off the lights when you |
| You also need to size an inverter to handle the | | | | leave a room are now a new habit. |
| wattage these appliances require and you need to | | | | You will find you are much more respectful of |
| factor in if appliances are on at the same time. | | | | your power consumption. |
| For example, your dryer and a toaster. That | | | | If possible, I would start small and gradually add |
| would require a peak wattage of 7,000 watts. A | | | | power to your current house, cabin or cottage, |
| 7,000 watt inverter is not cheap. | | | | unless your power consumptions are small, then |
| In order to really get off the grid, you need to | | | | implement all in one shot. |
| make some lifestyle changes. You will need to be | | | | To help reduce your investment, you might want |
| aware of what energy consumptions you are | | | | to consider making your own solar panels. |
| currently using and what are you willing to | | | | |