Going Off-Grid with Renewable Energy: Where to Start

I certainly entertained both of these thoughts myself when I began my renewable energy journey a half decade ago. After five years of hard work, I'm shocked at the size of the mountain I set out to climb, but also pleased with the progress. I have an office that is partially solar powered, a vehicle that runs free of fossil fuels (in addition to my bicycle), and I've helped a small business make significant strides at going off grid with solar electricity. Is my life 100% renewable energy powered like I had hoped it would be by now? No, but I'm certainly on my way and wouldn't trade the experience and knowledge I've gained for anything.

But let's talk more about why you're doing this.

Maybe, like me, you're in it as an activist because you believe that the current mainstream system of global energy production is one of the main drivers of armed conflict, indirectly linked to suffering and the loss of human life, and that it also ranks the health of global ecosystems below short-term profit and energy gains, which will result in future generations picking up a massive IOU. It could be that you just think it would be nice to have some electricity at your remote fishing shack.

Regardless of your motivation, if you're interested in learning more about using renewable energy to help lessen your dependence on the grid, here's some advice on where to start, what to expect and a few suggestions on what to think about before hand.

Do You Plan to Gobble or Sip?

I'm betting you're a gobbler. Don't take it so hard, though. I'm a gobbler. We were all born into a nation of gobblers -- a continent of gobblers, even. If you live in the industrialized world, take hot showers, have ever driven a gas-powered vehicle or watched television or gone to see a movie or enjoyed heat during a cold winter or air conditioning during a hot summer, then I'd say there's a 99 percent chance you're an energy gobbler. Most of the energy sippers in the world are not sipping out of a conscious choice, and would probably take the chance to gobble if given one. It's the human condition.

What's the point to all this gobble/sip talk? Well, it has to do with your expectations of renewable energy. If you consume the same amount of energy as the average North American, and you would like to continue to consume that same amount once you're off-grid, you should expect to spend a lot of money or put in an incredible amount of time, or both.

Let's say you have a 1,200 square foot house and you consume the U.S. average 930 kilowatt hours per month and you'd like to go completely off grid, paying someone to do the work for you. Any way you tackle this, whether it's solar power, wind power, micro-hydro, biofuels or a combination, it would be a conservative estimate to guess that you will spend at least $25,000 initially to do so. Probably more like $40,000. If you plan to do the work yourself, maybe knock off $5,000 to $10,000. Your most expensive option will likely be a solar photovoltaic system with battery storage. The least expensive option, at least initially, would probably be to invest in some large combustion engine generators and power them with biofuels. But this is a much more noisy, smelly option and requires the ongoing expense of fuel, not to mention the warranty issues that you'll encounter running biofuels in new generators.

So I would be very wary of anyone who promises you an inexpensive, easy way to go off-grid while still remaining a gobbler.

On the flip side, if you're willing to spend your days living by firelight, hauling your own water, taking cold showers and riding your bicycle, then you can go off the grid as quick as a light switch and as cheap as a wood stove and a few oil lamps. Millions of people do it every day, although not many of us gobblers are willing to simplify this drastically.

But does it have to be so black and white? Isn't there is a middle way? Lots of folks believe there is and it involves the following simple, yet very effective concept:

Efficiency First!
If you haven't taken any steps to go off grid with renewable energy, the best initial investment you can make has nothing to do with renewable energy but everything to do with the way you're already using energy. If you're heating or cooling a space, make sure that it's as well insulated as you can afford. If you're lighting a space, install the most efficient bulbs you can afford. Same with water consumption, or any resource for that matter. Just about any product category you click on here at growandmake.com will bring up a long list of energy efficient options. Like this one for example: Kill-a-watt.

I know that this concept gets pounded on by environmentalists, but it seems surprising how few people actually make it their first step. It's a lot sexier to show off those brilliant blue PV modules on your roof than to winterize your windows and doors or fill your walls with blow-in insulation where no one will see it, but pound for pound your dollars will go a lot farther toward long-term savings if you start with the insulation. The less we gobble, the easier it is to go off grid. It doesn't have to be a big investment like insulation either, even something like this product can end up saving a bunch of money over its lifetime: SaticSaver.

A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way This section is for those of you who are like me and tend to hit the ground running before you start thinking. All of these tips were gained through the repercussions of learning the hard way. If you are meticulous about your research and planning, maybe you can skip the little lecture and go right to the links. For the leap-first people, I'll keep it short: the time and money you spend on reading material now could save you big money in the future by keeping the errors in your trials to a minimum.

That said, there's no shortage of material online or in print, the tough part is sifting through it all to find the most effective material. Of course, our goal here at Grow and Make is to become one of the only places you need to look for education, but until our online library and article list is finished, here are a few of our favorite choices:

• http://www.amazon.com/Homeowners-Guide-Renewable-Energy-Independence/dp/086571536X
• http://www.amazon.com/Photovoltaics-Installation-Solar-Energy-International/dp/0865715203
• http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Water-Heating-Comprehensive-Systems/dp/0865715610/ref=pd_sim_b_3
• http://www.southface.org/learning-center/library/solar-resources-page
• http://www.biodieselsmarter.com/
• http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/alternative-energy/
• http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself.aspx
• http://www.altestore.com/store/Books-Classes-Educational-Videos/Educational-Videos/c1138/

Assess Your Priorities, Needs and Resources Once you've tackled efficiency in your space, done a little homework and boned up on the basics, it's time to start considering which type of power you will employ to go off the grid. Or maybe, we should start with this question: does it make sense for you to go off grid?

This may sound like blasphemy from someone who is a big advocate for off-grid systems, but it is a point to bring up. If your primary concern is environmental or financial, then it may make more sense to install a grid-tied system. The big difference between grid-tied and off-grid system is primarily one of storage, usually in the form of batteries, which are expensive (and while recyclable, their production has a significant environmental impact.) And you simply can't make an off-grid system as efficient as a grid-tied system, which is constantly using the energy you produce, rather than storing it. As for cost, off-grid renewable energy systems can't compete with grid-tied incentives or something like the solar lease option from companies such as Solar City.

Still, there are good reasons to join the 200,000 Americans who are currently off-grid. Maybe you don't have easy access to the grid in your remote cabin, maybe you aren't happy with the amount of fossil fuel resources your local utility consumes to bring you power, or maybe you simply prefer the security and knowledge you'll gain by installing and controlling your own off-grid power system.

Once you've made the commitment to going off grid, it's time to pick a type (or types) of renewable energy to pursue. To do this, you'll need to evaluate your resources and needs, while also revisiting your priorities. Explaining this could be the topic for an entirely different article, but here's a brief list of what to consider when considering the following power options.

Solar Hot Water Systems: While not as popular or mainstream as solar electrical systems, solar hot water systems are usually much more affordable and can also be DIY projects for those with passable plumbing skills. These systems make even more sense if you have a large need for hot water or if you have radiant floor heat or the capacity to install it. An installed system generally runs between $6,500 to $9,000 before tax credits, and a DIY set-up could be accomplished for less.

You'll Need: 1. Room to place a large pre-heat water tank somewhere in the general vicinity of your main hot water heater. 2. Good, unshaded south or southwest facing exposure somewhere on your property, preferably your roof. The closer this is to your water heater, the less it will cost. 3. If you live in a cold climate that gets a lot of winter sun (such as Colorado or Montana) you'll get even more value from these systems, although they even save us money here in cloudy Oregon.

Solar Air Systems: These are generally even more affordable than solar hot water systems, but may not provide quite the same capacity for energy gain. Solar air heaters operate like a heat pump, harnessing the suns rays to heat an insulated air mass outside and then pumping that mass indoors.

You'll Need: 1. Room to install a solar air heating panel outside of your home. 2. A south or southwest facing exterior wall on your home that receives several hours of direct sunlight each day. 3. If you live in a cold climate that gets a lot of winter sun (such as Colorado or Montana) you'll get even more value from these systems, although they even save us money here in cloudy Oregon.

Solar Photovoltaic Systems: This is what most people picture when they think of solar power. Although it has come down in cost considerably over the last two decades, solar PV power is still one of the more expensive forms of renewable energy. However, with current incentives and leasing options, it shouldn't be ruled out for those on a budget.

You'll Need: 1. Good, unshaded south or southwest facing exposure on your property, preferably your roof. 2. It's a misconception that solar electric systems don't make sense for areas with cloudy or rainy climes. Unless you live in Alaska, you'll very likely be able to harvest a long-term financial benefit from solar PV power.

Wind Power Systems: Wind power systems in the proper location can generate a great deal of electricity and often will pay for themselves sooner than a solar electric counterpart. That said, they generally have a few more requirements that are not as easily met.

You'll Need: 1. In general, at least an acre sized lot in order to accommodate the size of a mid-sized residential turbine, although smaller turbines are entering the marketplace, so this could change in the near future. 2. Room to elevate your turbine at least 80 feet off the ground using a tower is preferable, although turbines will still operate at lower elevations. 3. To make wind power pan out financially, it is recommended that you live in an area with an average wind speed of 10 mph and pay at least 10 cents/KwH of electricity.

Biofuel Power Systems: Biodiesel and ethanol have been the Brittney Spears of renewable energy in their rise and fall from media stardom. The environmental debate continues, but, in my opinion, biofuels shouldn't be ruled out as an off-grid possibility. For those with easy, inexpensive access to used vegetable oil (like restaurant owners and their friends) and a love of greasemonkey ways, home-made biodiesel could be the ticket for inexpensive off-grid living.

You'll Need: 1. A shop or garage to produce your own fuel or a sustainable biofuel retailer in your area. 2. No neighbors within earshot, a somewhat sound-proof housing for a diesel generator or neighbors who are calm and unarmed. 3. A diesel generator or two.

Start Small
Some parting advice, especially for those of the DIY mindset, is to start small. Buy a small solar generator kit or solar water heater to put together and learn the ropes before tackling your house, experiment with smaller RV or sailboat wind turbines before planting an 80-foot tower in your back yard or build a small biodiesel processor before you turn the entire garage into a retail fuel pump. Traveling the learning curve will be a lot smoother ride if you do.