Exploring Off Grid Options

What is off grid and why is everyone talking about it these days?

Well, we all need power in the form of electricity to light the bulb in our houses, run appliances, heat water, and numerous other uses. Have you ever stopped to think about the power coming to your house? Yes, most of the time you see big transmission lines transferring electricity from the traditional coal and/or nuclear power plants.

However, there is a beginning to be paradigm shift in the way people are meeting their energy needs. Instead of depending on large electric companies that supply electricity from the traditional grid, many people are now beginning to live off-grid by create their own electricity using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and/or biomass. This process is called living off grid and allows people to accomplish a few things:

1) Be not dependent on either state supported or private power companies. This is specifically important in developing economies such as India where power supply is erratic and unreliable

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2) Be able to live in remote or inaccessible areas that are not served by traditional power companies

3) Allows one to be fiscally and environmentally responsibly by not using traditional sources that pollute the environment yet enjoy most comforts of modern life.

In northern America, people started exploring living off grid approximately 20 years ago and were really considered counter-culture (called off-gridders) at that time. However, off the grid living is becoming mainstream now and a lot of people are exploring renewable energy technologies to meet their energy needs.

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One can meet the energy needs with a combination of solar panel and micro turbines. As an example, solar panels can easily provide approximately 1,500 watts of energy and micro turbines can provide additional 1,000 watts which is more than enough to power an average house in northern America and the house can be off grid.

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One would need much more less energy in other parts of the worlds since the houses are smaller and sometimes not centrally air-conditioned. These alternative energy technologies can keep the batteries charging for times when the sun is down or it is calm day. However, one might have to a backup for cloudy and windless days since alternative energy storage technology still is developing.

Please note that off grid living is still not cheap although it is predicted that by 2015, solar energy costs will be very comparable to traditional energy costs (approx. $2/ watt) without subsidies. Even if the actual cost of alternative energy may compete with traditional electricity cost, the upfront cost of installing the equipment is still high. It may cost up to approximately $25,000 to produce, 2,500 watts of electricity. Most governments recognize that cost can be a prohibitive factor and therefore have put various tax credits in place. In the United States, installation costs can be offset using the tax credits provide by the federal and state governments.

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In fact, there are communities in the northwest United States that have been living off-grid and sustaining themselves on green energy for some time now. One such community in Central Oregon is the Rivers Recreational Area that has about 300 homes that are totally off-grid. This community meets ALL its energy needs using alternative energy sources using solar systems and wind turbines.

This off grid community looks very similar to any housing community in the United States with a combination of houses, a fire hall, and million-dollar mansions and boasts of all modern conveniences. For most people though, living off-grid might be a big leap so it is advisable to start with small steps such as installing a solar heater, getting solar lamps, installing a medium solar panel and/or micro turbine.

Go to Alternative Energy Sources from living off grid

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