| Whether you are interested in living off the grid | | | | the system may not work well for you. Solar |
| for economic reasons, green living or both, | | | | systems do not produce power at night, so most |
| residential off grid power solutions may be the | | | | systems store power from the day and use a |
| answer for you. You will find that there are | | | | battery storage system to power the home at |
| several effective methods that allow you to have | | | | night. |
| the conveniences brought about by electricity | | | | In order to use a wind system, you will need to |
| while living off the grid. You will also be free you | | | | have about an acre of property. This gives plenty |
| from the monthly power bill and the pollution | | | | of room for the guy wires to hold the tower with |
| caused by commercial electrical generating | | | | the turbine and generator about 100 feet in the |
| stations. | | | | air where it is not affected by buildings or trees. |
| Most off grid homes rely on either solar or wind | | | | This system also relies on a battery backup |
| energy to meet their electrical needs. There | | | | system to prevent over powering appliances |
| advantages and disadvantages to both systems, | | | | using the wind power. |
| and either system needs a back up source of | | | | Although not as common as either solar or wind |
| energy for those times when you are unable to | | | | energy, there is also some work being done on |
| generate your power through wind or solar | | | | small scale hydroelectric water power. |
| energy. Most back up systems rely on a | | | | Hydroelectric power generates twenty four hours |
| generator that is powered by hydrocarbon fuel. | | | | per day and makes a great back up plan for |
| Solar power is appropriate for homes that have | | | | either solar or wind energy. |
| many days of sunshine. If you live in an area that | | | | No matter which residential off grid power |
| is often overcast or has very short winter days, | | | | solutions you choose, you can know that you are |
| solar power may not be an effective way to | | | | doing your part to improve our world and lower |
| generate your power. In addition if you live in a | | | | your energy bill. |
| valley or where there is a lot of tree coverage, | | | | |