When you imagine using alternative energy and living off the grid, do you think you will have to give up your TV or freezer to live that way?  Do you think this is only for hippies or survivalists, Luddites who can and want to live with less technology?Not exactly.  Living off the grid with home power is a possibility open to you or anyone.The more high-powered accessories you need to live, means building a bigger system to handle them.It is not to say.

Because of increased demand driven by the cost of gas and the economy, demand for renewable energy technology has soared, leading to more efficient and easy to use components. So, living off the grid is reasonable for anyone who cares about energy use and their carbon footprint.  

Using home power to produce electricity is fairly simple.  You need a power source.  Sun, wind and water are the big three right now for home power.Find the components that fit the one(s) best suited for you.A low voltage direct current is harnessed through the components.  That current is fed through an inverter, and converted into usable house current (AC).Your excess current generated can be stored in battery banks and retrieved when needed.  

When living off the grid with renewable power resources, there is little special attention needed and is almost completely automated.  You do need to:

Tend to the maintenance of your batteries

Monitor your energy use to make sure you keep your supply more than your demand.

The main key to success in living off the grid is making sure you have a system built in a size to meet the demand of your energy needs. 

Living off the grid can be exhilarating.Imagine the feeling of freedom you can get with alternative energy.  You can be proud of yourself in helping to combat global warming.Just think - power outages may be a thing of the past.  

It is important to research and determine which are the best alternative energy sources for your geographical area, for example, the number of days of sun in your area, or average wind, but it is definitely worthwhile to learn how to live  off the grid and feel the rush of freedom being  off the grid can give.   

Stirling Energy Systems’ 25 kW solar dish harnesses the power of the sun to make zero emissions energy. Stirling Energy Systems (SES) is a U.S. Phoenix, Arizona based company and recently (April 17, 2008) they announced that the company NTR plc of the United Kingdom had invested $100 million in them to take a controlling stake. On February 12, 2008 Stirling Energy Systems achieved a record 31.25% net efficiency in the conversion of solar energy to electricity, beating the earlier 29.4% efficiency of a Stirling Solar Dish set by Sandia National Laboratories in 1984.

Stirling Energy Systems’ Solar Dish Engine has the commercial brand name of ‘SunCatcher’ and was developed in 1984 by McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Kockums of Malmo, Sweden. With the acquisition of McDonnell Douglas by Boeing, Boeing assumed the rights to the technology. In 1996 Stirling Energy Systems acquired the patent rights and a license to build the Kockums 4-95 Stirling Engine from Boeing. Boeing and SES continued to work jointly on the development of the Stirling Engine in conjunction with the U.S. Department Of Energy (DOE) as Phase I and II development trials between 1999 and 2001.

Each Stirling-engine solar parabolic dish is 37 feet in diameter and generates 25kW. The solar dish works by reflecting the sun’s rays onto a receiver which transmits heat energy to a Stirling engine. The engine is a sealed system filled with hydrogen. As the gas heats and cools, its pressure rises and falls. The change in pressure drives pistons inside the engine which, in turn, drives a generator to make electricity.

The planet is an energy ravenous place and we need to be researching greener sources of energy to furnish that demand. We also need to determine better ways of utilizing the latest green energy technology that are already in place. We all need to be concerned about the impact that is being put on our planet and how the steep cost of energy is impacting us. The energy that is wasted every day is a sad state of affairs and everyone should take a look at what they could do to be more moderate in their usage. We should open our eyes and make ourselves more modest about our usage. There are solutions to these issues but how willing have people been to execute these solutions at the present.

One of the more popular forms of renewable energy is wind power. The cost of the power it develops is getting very aggressive with traditional methods of energy production such as coal and natural gas. Power used to be created by windmills in the past on the family farm for many years. Back in the day farmers were real trend setters because you could find one on every farm and it was used to provide power not as a yard decoration. It’s a known fact right now that the states of Texas, Kansas, and North Dakota have enough wind to furnish power for the whole U.S.

Corn has also been touted as great source of renewable fuel. The ethanol that is created from corn is a clean burning energy source and crops can be grown year after year so it is renewable but at what cost. This is a two edged sword though. On one hand the farmer benefits with an increase in the price of corn. On the ohter hand the consumer suffers because they are going to have to pay more at the grocery store. There are better alternative to corn and one of them is prairie grass. In reality it generates more energy per acre than corn. Plus you don’t have to cultivate it because it grows wild. It is a chemical free crop that just needs to harvested and processed.

Another renewable enegy source we see and hear more of is solar power. You have the solar panels which convert sunlight into electricity and solar water heater to produce hot water. I’ve read about people who have placed solar energy systems on their homes in areas you wouldn’t think it would work, like Seattle. Even though this is a very cloudy rainy area the ROI was quite respectable.

One of the reasons I really like solar power is the fact that it allows people to become energy independent one home at a time. This would allow a shift from centralized power production to decentralization. Maybe that is one of the reasons why there hasn’t been as much advancement as there should be and why costs remain high. It seems the corporate environment definitely like to be in control.

The oil reserves are going to dry up someday. Are we waiting for that day before we are going to start doing something about it. A new energy plan needs to be set in place. One that is sustainable and long lasting. It can start to benefit us now and will definitely benefit our children. Help out by doing something to make renewable energy something we can all enjoy.

You can learn more about solar panels, wind energy , and other forms of renewable energy sources by doing more research on the Internet about the subject that interests you the most.

Click Here To Learn How To Build Your Own Renewable Energy Energy System. Today in center stage is a battle for the ages. On the right corner, packing a hurricane punch yet is known to move softly as a breeze is wind power. On the left corner, with a scorching hot aura, moves in a speed of light, is solar energy. Wind power versus solar energy, which one is going to be declared the champion of the alternative energy movement?! Let’s get ready to rumble!

Or something like that. I apologize for that intro but I just can’t help. I figured that if I was going to match one alternative energy resource against the other, then I’ll make some extravagant introduction. Just imagine the drum rolls.

Actually, there is an existing debate among environmentalists and even scientists on which energy resource should be developed first given their advantages and drawbacks. Staying away from the personal biases, numerous studies have shown that overall, wind power is more cost effective than harnessing the sun’s energy. Let’s see the reasons behind that conclusion.

Harnessing the sun’s energy can be done by a number of ways. But probably the simplest way which can be applied in a small home is by using photovoltaic cells or PV or solar cells. What happens is that sunlight hit the surface of a photovoltaic (PV) panel which responds by creating free electrons which is channeled to generate an electric current.

Wind power on the other hand utilizes a propeller and a shaft system which has a magnet wrapped by a coil of wire inside. As the wind turns the propeller and the magnet inside, the electrons in the wire are forced to move along the wire producing an electrical current.

Both ways are quite simple but the complexities now lies on the costs of producing the necessary equipment especially the mechanisms that will maximize the power output. Also have a look at cheap home owner insurance quotes for further thoughts. When costs of production of photovoltaic cells and wind turbine are compared, the latter is much cheaper to produce. Although, manufacturers of photovoltaic cells stress that as the demand on PV cells increase, the costs of production decreases. So its just a matter of time before PV cells become price competitive.

Other problems include the logistics of placing the equipment. A solar panel requires quite a large space plus, your location on the globe will affect the amount of sunlight you receive and consequently the amount of power you produce. The further away from the equator you are, the less amount of sunlight you can harness. Also, on the average, the PV cells have a 15-20% efficiency rate.

The problem with wind power on the other hand is that not all areas will have winds favorable for a turbine. And if you do locate a place where winds are strong and the turbine can be maximized, you’ll find that the area (more often than not) is inhabited by various species of birds. You don’t want to kill birds with your turbine, do you?

Now going back to our wind power vs. solar energy match-up, indeed we do have to agree that wind power is more cost efficient. However, both alternative energy resource will play a big role in our future.

It is, therefore, in my humble opinion that we both develop the two technologies simultaneously for each one has their advantages and disadvantages and each one can be properly utilized for specific areas. To save money right be sure to also check out Fastest Free Auto Insurance Quotes Online.

The debate about the use of solar power as a means producing electricity is a hot one with definite battle lines drawn on the subject. Proponents of solar power believe it is the way to power the future. Others prefer to find reasons why solar power won’t work. The reality is that there’s some validity to both sides.

The arguments for and against solar energy are real and have merit. In many areas around the world the sun shines reliably almost every day making it a dependable energy source. Since the daylight is widely available each day at least to some degree, it is straightforward to make use of its energy such as with solar water heating.

Use of solar energy in the creation of electricity contributes to the reduction in pollution. Solar power is a clean energy source and gives off no damaging emissions into the atmosphere. The water supply is not polluted and no the soil is not affected adversely. No other energy source generates electricity as environmentally friendly as solar energy. Solar power systems can be must be long-term investments with tax incentives and power purchase agreements in place to ensure their viability.

Negative factors to solar energy includes the amount of land required to generate commercial scale electricity. The majority of solar energy systems also require some kind of water source, which is a resource that is becoming increasingly scarce. Cost is another factor making acceptance increasingly difficult to find. There is a high lead-in financing required before the first watt of electricity is ever produced. The issue of the sun not shining can be a factor, although this is not such an issue for CSP (concentrating solar panel) technology which can continue to produce electricity after the sun has set.

Solar energy passes the test of dependability with flying colors. The expenses for maintaining a solar power system are extraordinarily low. Some parts of the system may last decades without any upkeep at all. Solar panels are sometimes assured to maintain eighty percent of their potency for as much as twenty-five years. A solar power system is neither too perilous nor too difficult for most folk to run. It needs no supervision from the govt. Or any other agency as it poses no hazards. The price of running the systems is also awfully low. In the final analysis, the benefits of solar power far outweigh the downsides. It appears the main sticking point is cost. Yet, as green technology comes down in price, this sort of energy becomes even more fascinating.