DIY solar and wind power

[mythmaster]

I'm just beginning to research this, and I was wondering if any of you are doing this now and/or can direct me to some good resources of information online.

A quick search doesn't yield more than some scam artists that are trying to sell me HOWTO manuals containing information that I'm certain can be found for free if you know where to look.  Perhaps there are even some forums similar to this one where people actively discuss these topics.  I guess that if there were enough interest here then we could ask Jeff for a subforum, too.

Anyway, as I find good information, I'll share the links here if anyone is interested.

 

[pineywoods]

I have found some good info here and some other links from there too

http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/3_0.html

 

[mythmaster]

Thanks, Jerry -- I remember someone posting a link to this forum before, and I was impressed but too stupid to bookmark it.

It's bookmarked now!

I like their ideas, but they seem to be more geared towards saving money on their "vacation cabins" rather than actually going "off-the-grid" at home.

This is my dream (other than having sex with a whole plethora of women at the same time while I'm on Viagra after serving them a Kobe Prime Rib that I've smoked

):

1) buy up some acreage

2) dig a well and install a septic tank (separate functions, of course)

3) build an awesome house

4) set up solar panels and wind turbines to completely power everything

5) have a vegetable and spice garden (preferably aeroponics)

6) have a ranch that raises cattle, hogs, and chickens

7) smoke the hell out of #6

8) live happily ever after with my extremely successful businesses, my gorgeous wife, and my beautiful children and grand-children

I don't think that's too much too ask for.

 

[rio_grande]

Hope you realize your Dream. Have had the same one for too long I think, probably never happen. I have looked into the off the grid avenues and for the same reasons I do not have the above mentioned Dream realized I do not have the off the grid power. When I got really serious and looked into it, was gonna take far longer than the estamated life of the pannels to pay back the inital investment.  

 

[mythmaster]

I hear you, Rio, but the DIY options have become quite attainable.  You can build a wind turbine for less than $100, and you can build solar panels quite cheaply (compared to commercially manufactured ones) from parts readily available at Radio Shack, etc.

I haven't done the math on everything because I don't know the actual figures yet, but I think that a DIY solution would work quite well for me simply because of where I live:  We get 12+ MPH winds here nearly year-round.

We certainly don't lack in any sunshine, either, so I think that a combination of wind and solar could easily take me right out of the grid.  And I don't think that the investment required would be more than what I would end up paying to the city in the long run.

Of course, I would have to do some maths to make sure, but my gut instinct tells me that I would save VERY MUCH money.  Also, it doesn't even really matter about how much money I can save because I will ALWAYS have power.  "Oh, your power lines got knocked down by a storm?"  OH, WELL! That can't possibly affect me because I have my own damn power.

It's totally worth it IMHO.

 

[pops6927]

Go to http://www.planetgreen.com and check out all the many ways you can contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of your living and lifestyle on the planet.  Just as high-dollar investments help, so does being a concientious planet tenant and do the little things that are low-cost or free to help sustain this earth instead of destroying it.   Catch a few episodes of "Wa$ted" to open your eyes on what you can do and to save money and to what extent - a great show!  Check out local initiatives in your area.  For example, Fort Worth Water Department is offering FREE water conserving toilets to homeowners who have older, wasteful ones.  My neighbors got two this spring, I'll be able to get two this fall.  These are dual flush - ½flush and full flush (but still conserving water by design). 

When we got a new refrigerator in January, we didn't get a very expensive one, but we got one that was Energy Star rated and had the cold water and ice on the door vs. us running a separate cold water cooler - the savings from that alone will pay for the refrigerator!

You DON'T have to spend $50,000 on solar panels on your roof to be green, not everyone can afford that.  Ask for paper, not plastic.  Use dishes instead of foam plates.  Build or buy a solar hot water heater.  Recycle.  Re-use old wood from construction sites vs. cutting down new trees in your builds. Make a dog food scoop out of a plastic bottle instead of buying one.  Check out pallet recycling - building fine furniture out of recycled old wood pallets, that's a whole cottage industry by itself! Little things count in big ways!  The Gulf Oil disaster is horrible, but we're blanketing our entire land in refuge just as badly with fast food plastic throwaways and foam cups we toss out the windows of our gas guzzling cars, it just isn't brown and sticky.  President Obama is right, this is our 'call-to-arms' to do something about it, and no better time than now!

 

[coyote-1]

On the market, but generally unavailable, are solar roof shingles. I'd love to see them become a bit more efficient. Then they could, in theory anyway, be used on virtually all new residential construction and roof replacement projects. It won't take you off the grid in many northern areas, but it would substantially reduce the amount of power you draw from the grid. In the southern parts of the nation it could, if combined with other 'green' processes like subterranean heat pumps, take you off the grid.

 

[alblancher]

We have to change the single source concept.  We need a true understanding of how a broad range of clean energy sources can be utilized.  We need to invest in Fusion technology, expand our energy efficient rail systems, make the home owner responsible for the majority of their home energy consumption, improve electronics to reduce their energy use.  We have to find a way to transport the energy available in the wind and solar corridors to the rest of the nation.  We need to take the billions spent on protecting our oversees sources of oil, the billions spent on cleaning up environmental damage and invest it in new energy technology and infrastructure build out.    We have to learn that setting the home thermostat on 83 degrees in the summer and 65 degrees in the winter is still a livable environment, turn the TV set off occasionally, plan our trips to the grocery store instead of constantly running out to pick up single items.

The point of my post is that Americans always look for a singular solution.  The quarterback is the reason a team wins or loses, the pitcher carries the team, the President is in total control and responsible.  We need to develop the mindset that our future energy needs will be met by a host of sources.  Solar, wind, hydro, fusion, geothermal. biofuels will all generate the energy to make transportable fuels like hydrogen, alcohol and battery power. 

I was in college in the 70s and we talked about this, the solutions presented then are the same as the solutions presented now, but very little has been achieved because one of the biggest fallacies of our current market driven economy is that it plans for the future.  We want to believe that companies have a 15 year investment time frame while their directors are rewarded or penalized  according to quarterly earnings.  This concept has to change.   I also think that as individuals we don't take sufficient responsibility for the world we will leave the next generation.  It is time for a WWII type response, we need to declare all out war on our current energy dependencies, chart a course for the future and make the change.

The current disaster needs to open our eyes.  I was involved with pelican nesting surveys in college,  worked with the men and women trying to understand how hydrocarbons are transported through our environmental systems.  I live and fish and hunt in the areas being destroyed by technology's failure and human greed.  I have camped on the Chandeleur Islands, fished Queen Bess Island, felt God while watching the pelicans and seabirds flying into a rising sun.  This disaster has made our energy policy personal. 

Have Americans become too damed lazy or just don't care enough to stand up and demand that we make the changes our future requires now!  Where is our next Roosevelt, the next Churchill?  Where is the American courage that built the nation?

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
Thomas Paine

Al Blancher

 

[placebo]

Deleted due to potential thread jack.

 

[ak1]

Have Americans become too damed lazy or just don't care enough to stand up and demand that we make the changes our future requires now!  Where is our next Roosevelt, the next Churchill?  Where is the American courage that built the nation?

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
Thomas Paine

Al Blancher

Yes you have! But so have us Canadians, and I would venture, much of the western world. Perhaps it's time that we all gave up our sense of entitlement, and actually thought about paying for something what it is actually worth.

What I think is that societal values need to change. We all need to get back to the point where we're not so selfish, and need to have the latest, greatest thing, at the cheapest possible cost. There's something wrong when I can buy apples grown in China for less than I can buy locally grown.
 

 

[pineywoods]

Lets get this thread back to the orginal topic and not into politics Mythmaster was looking for sources and information about systems

 

[ak1]

OOP's. Sorry!

Also, you'll need to check local regulations. Where I am, I cannot be off the grid. Any power I generate I have to sell to the local utility, and then buy power from them???????

 

[pineywoods]

OOP's. Sorry!

Also, you'll need to check local regulations. Where I am, I cannot be off the grid. Any power I generate I have to sell to the local utility, and then buy power from them???????

That would stink I'm sure they would buy it from you at wholesale rates and sell it back to you at retail

Its my understanding that I could produce my power and either use it, store it or hook it to the grid and sell any extra to the power company. It interests me but of course the commercial systems I have seen don't make financial sense and there doesn't seem to be lots of information out there for DIY systems. I am looking forward to any good info this thread may generate tho
 

 

[Bearcarver]

Myth,

Upfront outfits that I know of. Anything from "Rodale Press".

"New Shelter" was always my go to for modern technological things in the building area. Don't know if it still is available.

Bear

 

[cliffcarter]

The picture above is a solar panel used to supply domestic hot water. I am currently the Project Coordinator for the construction of six houses that will be using this system for year round domestic hot water. Keep in mind that this is in central Maine where the daytime high in the winter averages below freezing and below zeroF temps during the day are common, needless to say in the winter we don't get much sun. By all accounts the people who bought the first six that we built have not had any problems with the hot water supply. The boiler is connected as a back up heat source. The system we are installing is pricey though at $8000+ per house. The website below gives you more info on what we are using.

http://www.vitoteam.com/

 

[jdt]

Ed Begleys show Living with Ed did a special on Larry Hagmans ranch, he has various wind and solar power options, not only did he eliminate his $37,000 annual power bill but he now gives away free power to five needly families down in the valley where he lives near Ojei California. The show was called Living with Larry Hagman, it was worth a watch for sure.

Can anyone here imagine a $3000 power bill every month?

 

[rio_grande]

Clif thanks for posting this, I am really interested as a first step in the direction of self suffiency. Acording to my power company 40-60 % of my electric bill is heating water. That could be some real savings. While I guess because I am too lazy I cant afford a 8000.00 system but have been reading for some time about difrent home brew solutions but I havent found anything Itrust enough for my kids to consume water out of it.

I take some serious exception to some of what was posted above but out of respect for Jerry and his legitamate request I will keep my mouth shut.

 

[cliffcarter]

For the homeowner who wants to use solar or wind power for electricty the real problem is not the power generation but power storage. The huge battery storage systems ain't cheap, just ask someone who's had to replace one in a hybrid or electric car. 

As for hot water supply, if you can get connected to a natural gas supply in your area, look in to a gas fired on demand hot water heater, much better option cost wise. 

 

[pops6927]

Here's a link to solar energy for the US gov.:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/financial_opportunities.html

 

[mythmaster]

Yes, storage is a concern,  but you can pick up used car batteries from most any salvage yard at a fraction of the cost.  It's not like you'll need "cranking power" or anything -- just something that will hold a charge.

BTW, thank you all for your replies.  Do we have enough interest in this topic to request a sub-forum?  This is going to be a long-term research project for me because I will actually do it eventually.