Many of us are searching for ways to reduce our utility bills and to be more self-sufficient  through the use of alternative power. All things considered, the benefits don’t stop there; not when considering Mother Nature’s tirade over the past several years. [...]]]>

***The following is a guest post for The Solar Power Blog by Barbara Fix.***

Many of us are searching for ways to reduce our utility bills and to be more self-sufficient  through the use of alternative power. All things considered, the benefits don’t stop there; not when considering Mother Nature’s tirade over the past several years. Installing solar panels or a wind turbine means no scrambling for oil lamps and sleeping bags the next time the power grid goes down.

However, no matter how good your intentions are with regards to self-sufficiency, they can leave us feeling sucker-punched when the final estimate is in.  It’s understandable. Most of us are struggling to pay for our mortgages while the value of the US dollar plummets into economic freefall.

Not to worry. Thanks to a few good people, do-it-yourself instructions to build your own solar panels or wind turbine are available online for free, and that’s something we can afford.

For now, let’s start with a thumbnail comparison of solar panels vs. wind turbines. I  based this research on my homestead cabin and went to a solar/wind turban provider who offered a calculator that asked for zip code to calculate my locations temperature norms and daily sunlight averages. The questionnaire also requested annual kilowatt use. The information is then calculated and recommendations are offered as to whether wind turbine or solar panels are the best solution for your location. Surprisingly, their recommendation showed that my location in northern Idaho had a rating suitable for both solar and wind turbines. Obviously whomever invented this calculator hadn’t been anywhere near north Idaho this winter and early spring. Just two days before Easter, we were blanketed with 3 inches of snowfall overnight and parents had to scramble for a plan B for Easter egg hunts. Placing an egg on the surface of snow, and mixing it with a little daylight, no matter how stingy, and you end up with cute little egg tunnels and not so cute sobbing children. March and April delivered punishing winds that threatened to snap the pine trees on my property that lead to visions of Zeus joining Mother Nature; both bent on using my metal roof for target practice.

It turned out the costs were nearly identical for both solar panels and wind turbine, and as I mentioned, both systems were promised to be good candidates for my area of North Idaho. Based on this past winter and spring, the decision was an easy one: wind generation ruled! For someone living in Toke, Alaska where the sun is missing in action for half the year, going with wind power is a wise decision. But if you live in Phoenix and get sunlight nearly every day—please don’t rub it in--solar panels are the way to go.
Even when your location screams for solar panels, you might want to add Murphy’s Law to the equation because although some solar panels are made with tempered glass and are designed to withstand 1-inch hail and 50 MPH winds, should your area get pummeled by golf ball sized hail every once in a while, look out!

Wind turbines have their own issues. They have moving parts, so with them comes routine maintenance. If you suffer from a fear of heights, better arrange for someone you trust to do the maintenance work.

There is an option of partnering solar panels and wind turbans, and for certain locations, it’s the best approach.

No matter what best suits your geographic location, a portion of energy needs can be reduced with simple restraint.  The government is about to take some of our options away by following the lead of other nations who have outlawed the incandescent light bulb, severing a 130 year dependence upon Edison’s contribution to modern life. A ban on higher wattage incandescent light bulbs will begin in the US sometime in 2012.

We can take advantage of tax write-offs by purchasing smaller, energy star rated hot water heaters or energy efficient tank-less models. And for those of us with availability to natural gas, gas hot water heaters might help. I use the word might quite literally. We don’t know where that “glass” ceiling stops with regards to the price of oil. Some warn it will skyrocket to $5.00 a gallon and stay there. I believe them… I wished I didn’t.

We can switch out our refrigerators and ranges for energy saving models, and get into the habit of turning the lights off and unplugging appliances and chargers when not in use.
No matter how we do it, while the economy continues its nosedive, it’s time to find a workable solution to cut the costs of utilities as we navigate our way to long-term solvency.

The good news is there are folks out there willing to help us unplug from the grid who share do-it-yourself instructions to build solar panels and wind turbines. If you chose to either build or purchase an alternative energy source, you can unplug from the grid and breathe much easier.

As the price of oil continues to rise, and as more people than ever wake up to what we are doing to the environment, solar power is rapidly becoming more popular than ever.  In fact, one might even say that a revolution is taking place.  An increasing number of people are finding value in becoming [...]]]>

As the price of oil continues to rise, and as more people than ever wake up to what we are doing to the environment, solar power is rapidly becoming more popular than ever.  In fact, one might even say that a revolution is taking place.  An increasing number of people are finding value in becoming self-sufficient, and solar power is one of the top choices for those who desire to get "off the grid".   

So just how popular is solar power becoming?  Well, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, 44% of Americans believe that solar power should become a standard method for heating homes in the United States.

Not only that, but according to that same survey 31% of Americans say that they are at least "somewhat likely" to use solar power in their homes in the next five years, and 13% say that they are very likely to do so.

Those are very encouraging numbers.

The cost of implementing a home solar power system is coming down at a time when more Americans than ever are viewing solar power as a practical alternative.

If you are in need of some inspiration, just check out the following video report about what one couple living in the Herefordshire countryside is doing with solar power....

Of course solar power is not the only alternative energy source that is good for the environment. There are others who are turning to wind power and geothermal methods of producing renewable energy. But solar is probably the most prominent at this point, and it certainly holds a lot of promise.

If you are looking for a way to help the environment and to become more self-sufficient, we encourage you to check out solar power as a possibility.  We believe that you will be glad that you did.

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping in the backyard. For everyday adventure, Etón corporation is there to keep you connected, empowered and informed [...]]]>

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping in the backyard. For everyday adventure, Etón corporation is there to keep you connected, empowered and informed all year round, 365 days a year. Sleek and portable MICROLINK FR160 helps you define your adventure Radios for Everyday Adventure The Etón MICRO (more...)

If you came here looking for hope, you just found it.

From Publishers Weekly

The inscription on a granite obelisk in Beaumont, Tex., claims: On this spot on the tenth day of the twentieth century, a new era in civilization began. On that scrubby mound of dirt gushed a fountain of oil that sprayed for days, tripled U.S. oil [...]]]>

From Publishers Weekly

The inscription on a granite obelisk in Beaumont, Tex., claims: On this spot on the tenth day of the twentieth century, a new era in civilization began. On that scrubby mound of dirt gushed a fountain of oil that sprayed for days, tripled U.S. oil production overnight and set off a frenzy that revolutionized the industrial age. Previously, crude oil and its derivative, kerosene, held little more value than cheap ways to heat and light homes, but as wildcatt (more...)

Amazon.com

The family of Solio the Universal "Hybrid" Chargers, Solio Mono, Solio Classic, Solio Hybrid-1000, the Solio Magnesium, are powerful enough to charge all handheld electronic devices at home or on the move, anything, anytime, anywhere. It is a Hybrid because it can accept power from [...]]]>

Amazon.com

The family of Solio the Universal "Hybrid" Chargers, Solio Mono, Solio Classic, Solio Hybrid-1000, the Solio Magnesium, are powerful enough to charge all handheld electronic devices at home or on the move, anything, anytime, anywhere. It is a Hybrid because it can accept power from either the sun, a computer, or the wall storing this energy within Solio's internal rechargeable battery. Solio uses this energy to power gadgets at the same rate as wall adaptors and wi (more...)

From the Manufacturer

The Coleman CC-4000 controller will connect to your panel to avoid overcharging your batteries when using the Coleman solar chargers. Use with CL-1200 model

(more...)

Review

Nelson's obvious experience in lecturing on solar cells has made this book a most useful and recommendable reading. -- Hans J Queisser, Max-Planck-Institute of Solid-State Research, Stuttgart, GermanyPhotovoltaics will play an increasingly important role in a future low-carbon energy economy. Jenny Nelson has provided a splendidly clear, [...]]]>

Review

Nelson's obvious experience in lecturing on solar cells has made this book a most useful and recommendable reading. -- Hans J Queisser, Max-Planck-Institute of Solid-State Research, Stuttgart, GermanyPhotovoltaics will play an increasingly important role in a future low-carbon energy economy. Jenny Nelson has provided a splendidly clear, concise and readable account of the basic semiconductor physics of the solar cell, complete with student exercises and solutions. In the (more...)

All the power you need is already there. This third edition helps readers understand the basics of solar (photovoltaic) power and explore whether it makes sense for them, what their options are, and what's involved with installing various on- and off-grid systems. •Solar power is a $3 billion industry, [...]]]>

All the power you need is already there. This third edition helps readers understand the basics of solar (photovoltaic) power and explore whether it makes sense for them, what their options are, and what's involved with installing various on- and off-grid systems. •Solar power is a $3 billion industry, and it's poised to grow to $39 billion by 2014 •By 2011, the United States will surpass Germany as the largest market for solar power products

About the Author (more...)

Amazon.com

The Sunforce 50044 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit gives you several more reasons to love the sun. It provides the power you need, while helping you save money and protect the environment. This kit is ideal for cabins, recreational vehicles, remote power, back-up power, and 12-volt battery [...]]]>

Amazon.com

The Sunforce 50044 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit gives you several more reasons to love the sun. It provides the power you need, while helping you save money and protect the environment. This kit is ideal for cabins, recreational vehicles, remote power, back-up power, and 12-volt battery charging. It comes with everything you need to start producing up to 60 Watts/4 Amps of clean, free power in all weather conditions. Sunforce kits are easy to set up and operate. C (more...)

Easy-to-understand, accurate, and comprehensive, this is the guide for anyone interested in installing a solar electric system. Power from the Sun provides a basic understanding of electricity, solar energy and the sun, and solar site assessment. It discusses the types of photovoltaics (PVs) and PV systems, advances in PVs, charge controllers, inverters, batteries, [...]]]>

Easy-to-understand, accurate, and comprehensive, this is the guide for anyone interested in installing a solar electric system. Power from the Sun provides a basic understanding of electricity, solar energy and the sun, and solar site assessment. It discusses the types of photovoltaics (PVs) and PV systems, advances in PVs, charge controllers, inverters, batteries, and generators, as well as the installation and maintenance of a PV system. This book is written for the layperson (more...)

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping [...]]]>

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping in the backyard. For everyday adventure, Etón corporation is there to keep you connected, empowered and informed all year round, 365 days a year. Sleek and portable MICROLINK FR160 helps you define your adventure Radios for Everyday Adventure The Etón MICRO (more...)

The perfect source for solar power—fully illustrated. Solar Power (photovoltaics) is now a one-billion-dollar industry, and it’s poised to grow rapidly in the near future as more pressure is placed on limited fossil fuel resources and as advances in solar technology drive down the costs of [...]]]>

The perfect source for solar power—fully illustrated. Solar Power (photovoltaics) is now a one-billion-dollar industry, and it’s poised to grow rapidly in the near future as more pressure is placed on limited fossil fuel resources and as advances in solar technology drive down the costs of residential solar systems. This book helps readers understand the basics of solar power and other renewable energy sources, explore whether solar power makes sense for them, what (more...)

The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system [...]]]>

The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system from scratch using photovoltaic solar panels. Accompanying this book is a solar resource website containing lots of useful information, lists of suppliers and on-line (more...)

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping [...]]]>

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping in the backyard. For everyday adventure, Etón corporation is there to keep you connected, empowered and informed all year round, 365 days a year. Sleek and portable MICROLINK FR160 helps you define your adventure Radios for Everyday Adventure The Etón MICRO (more...)

The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America?now in an updated edition Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you?re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house [...]]]>

The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America?now in an updated edition Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you?re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! This new edition gives you hands-on tips and tech (more...)

WordPress Autoblogging

The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system [...]]]>

The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system from scratch using photovoltaic solar panels. Accompanying this book is a solar resource website containing lots of useful information, lists of suppliers and on-line (more...)

If you want to put together a solar power system yourself this DVD is for you. Although it covers an off-grid system it is just as helpful for someone who wants to be partially on grid but would rather set up the system themselves. This is not an overview but rather programmed instruction. [...]]]>

If you want to put together a solar power system yourself this DVD is for you. Although it covers an off-grid system it is just as helpful for someone who wants to be partially on grid but would rather set up the system themselves. This is not an overview but rather programmed instruction. This DVD shows, step-by-step, how a 650-watt, off-grid, do-it-yourself solar-panel system was set up. The system partially replaced a 2-gallon-a-day gasoline-driven generator system and was es (more...)