Tag Archives: Solar Panels

Bluetti Portable Solar Generator – The Perfect Solar Solution for Beginners that Want to Learn about Solar with an Affordable Starting Price Tag

Bluetti EB70S Power Station

If you’re tired of sitting in the dark at night, we highly recommend buying a BLUETTI EB70S Portable Power Station | 800W 716Wh in tandem with the Bluetti PV200 4-Panel Folding Solar Panels. The power station comes in several colors, we liked the charcoal grey the best. They are very easy to setup and require no knowledge of solar. Just plug everything together, put the solar panels in the sunshine and presto you have electricity.

Once we placed the order the company shipped the unit and it took around 2 weeks to arrive. It came in two packages, one for the EB70S Portable Power Station and one for the foldable 200-watt solar panels. The packaging was very sturdy. There was an outside box. And the power station was inside another box, which means that regardless of where you live the Bluetti products will show up in pristine condition.

Easy-to-Use

The best news is that you don’t know how to know anything about solar to install or use the free solar electricity it produces. It comes with a short brochure that tells you what every feature is, what its function is as well as how to connect everything together. The whole system in plug-and-play and is super easy to setup up. As the sun travels across the sky from east to the west, you may need to adjust the solar panels to keep them perpendicular to the sun for maximum power production. Always keep the panels pointed directly at the sun when possible. Also note that in the winter, the sun sinks low in the southern sky. Tilting the solar panels up a little bit so that they remain at a 90 degree (perpendicular) to the sun’s rays. You’ll also know that the solar panels are working when they get hot as they begin to produce solar energy.

You will know when to move the solar panels by keeping a close eye on power production. If it power production falls a little bit, check the shadow and readjust the solar panels as necessary. In full sun, our panels produce around 194 watts out of the 200 watts of rated power. Overtime you will learn exactly how much solar UV rays you can expect to capture during the different thicknesses of clouds.

It is always best to keep the EB70S solar power station and solar panels dry and out of the rain. You can store the Bluetti Power Station inside a tent with ePort or in a large waterproof box. The solar panels MC4 connectors are designed with an o-ring to be water resistant, but they are not waterproof. Electricity and puddles of water might cause someone to get accidentally electrocuted.

Easy-to-Setup the Solar Panels & Plug into the EB70S Power Station

It takes about 5 minutes to setup every morning. We found that putting stick in the ground in front of the solar panels, but not throwing any shade on them, will help you place the solar panels perfectly based on the shadow of the stick. Setup the solar panels perpendicular (90-degree angle) to the shadow of the stick.

First, you’ll need to determine which way is south and where the panels will receive full sunlight and zero shade. On the backside of the panels are fold out supports that can be setup at different angles. To start out we chose 45 degrees. Next you fold out the four panels and tilt them back until the fold out legs rest on the earth.

The panels have a cool zip up pouch that allows you to roll up the wiring and keep it tucked away while stored at night. In the morning, unzip the pouch pull out the wiring. Next, there is only one step needed to plug in the solar panels into the Bluetti Portable Power Station/Solar Generator. With both wiring harnesses snapped together there are about 14-ft. of cabling that go from the solar panels to the portable solar power station batteries.

Easy-to-Read Display LCD Panel

Once the panel wiring cables are connected to the Bluetti power station charging cable and the solar panels are folded out and facing south directly to the sun, you can then plug the charging cable into the Input/MPPT 12-28V200-Watt Max charging port.

Instantly you’ll see the LCD display unit light up in blue. As long as you keep in the shade of a tent or the solar panels, the display if very easy-to-read. The display panel shows you how many watts of power are going into the batteries as well as how many watts are being used by everything that is plugged in. You can run in regular or economy mode, which automatically shuts the Power Station down when not in use, very similar to how a laptop or cell phone will power down and go to sleep.

There are two big numbers on the LCD display. The top number shows the input of how much solar power in being imported to charge the batteries of the EB70S power station. The bottom number shows the total of how much energy is being exported to the AC or DC outlets to charge all of the devices that are plugged into the Bluetti power station/solar generator.

The instructions say to keep the Bluetti Power station dry and out of the direct sunlight so we put the power station directly behind the panels in the shade of the panels when charging and when in the sunshine we put white hand towel over the top and sides making sure not to block the vent fans on each side of the power station. Always best to block direct sunshine from shining on the solar power station to keep it cool as possible so that it can generate maximum power possible. Placing the power station in the shade behind the solar panels and on top or inside of a ventilated rubber storage bin works very well.

Solar Power Generation and DC charging/AC Outlets
The front of to Bluetti Portable Power Station is organized into two well-thought-out grouping of wireless charging outlets delineated with white boxes.

One square is for charging DC appliances such as phones, tablets and laptops and has six charging options plus a cigarette lighter charging port. On top of the power station there is also a wireless 15v charger for anything that can be charged with a wireless charging. It also has a ton of different plugs that can be used to charge your gear.

DC Output Power Charging Options for Devices

Two PD3.0 100-watt plugs
Two 5V/3A USB plugs
Two 12V/10A plugs
One 12V Cigarette Lighter
One 15V Wireless Charging Pad for Cell Phones

The second square is for Powering AC appliances and has 4 plugs.

AC Output Power Plugs for AC Devices with Pure Sine Wave Inverter

Two AC 100-120V/800W max output for 2-Prong Plugs
Two AC 100-120V/800W max output for 3-Prong Plugs

Charging the Bluetti Portable Power Station/Solar Generator

The best way to charge the Bluetti is with the solar panels. But you can also charge it with your car, an AC outlet in a restaurant, bar or any fast food store that provides Wi-Fi, or by using a backup generator.

Charging with the solar panels is the fastest, free way to charge the Bluetti Power Station usually takes around 3 to 4 hours to reach 100% charge. Charging times depend on how many other things the power station is charging up or powering at the same time.

Power Input Options for Charging the Bluetti Portable Power Station

Solar Power – The fastest way and most convenient way to charge up the Bluetti portable power station is with the solar panels, which can charge the power station in around 3 – 4 hours as long as the sun is out and there are no clouds.
Home AC Power – If you have the option, you can charge the Bluetti Portable Power Station by plugging it in to your homes AC outlet the night before you go on a camping trip. It is slower and make take 5 hours or more because AC power has to be converted into DC power to charge the batteries.
Vehicle DC Power – If you forget to charge the Power Station the night before you go on vacation you can also charge it using the vehicles 12v cigarette lighter, which is also very slow, but if you’re going to be driving for several hours why not charge it as long as you can so you start with 100% once you arrive at your off grid property or camping spot? Always remember to unplug the power station or it will drain your vehicle’s battery. Don’t worry if the battery dies. You can charge it back up as soon as the sun comes out.
Backup Generator AC Power – If you have an off grid generator that generates AC power, you can also charge up the Power Station with a backup generator, but just like a home’s AC power it takes longer than the solar panels.

How We Tested the Bluetti Power Station

The first night, we plugged lower usage devices in one-by-one just to see how much each device used so we . TV, laptop, a heating pad, a heating blanket (75-Watts) and one LED light which lights up our whole tent. When plugging things in one at a time, you can how much power each is using. The only one we weren’t sure of was the TV, but it only used 145-watts.

The first morning, after the solar panels were setup and the sun came up we ran a Mr. Coffee maker to brew a pot of coffee. It used 800-watts while percolating, but then only 200-watts to keep the pot warm. Once the coffee was done and we filled up our thermos, we then plugged in a portable countertop ice maker and made ice until our ice chest was full to the brim with ice, which takes a little while of all the things we liked about testing this setup was the ability to create Off Grid ice. Is very, very convenient not having to drive 50 miles roundtrip to a convenience store every three days to get more ice.

The Bluetti is a game changer when camping, but we see the real value in natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or wildfires that destroy the local electricity power grid. Everybody that has refrigerator full of food that will go bad if the electricity is out for more than 1 to 2 days. As long as you have a big ice chest, a portable ice maker, a clean supply of water and a Bluetti portable solar generator, you can make lots of ice.

With a Magic Chef portable countertop ice maker (150-watts), a single batch of ice will take between 7 and 15 minutes to freeze the cubes and drop into the portable ice maker’s storage tank. On average, the countertop portable ice makers can produce up to 35 lbs. of ice every day, as well as store as much as 2 lbs. of ice inside the ice maker. Run this during the day, while the sun is generating maximum power. It won’t take very long to fill up your whole ice chest, when yours is full, you can sell the excess ice to neighbors for a couple of dollars per bag or give it away for free.

If you like cold beer and soft drinks or need to keep lots of food from spoiling while camping or during natural disasters, you should invest in a portable ice maker for sure.

You could easily recoup your investment in Bluetti’s portable solar generator and ice maker by selling ice to your neighbors at $5 a bag when emergency situations present themselves.

DeWalt 20V Battery Pack Powered Tools

We tested the Bluetti Solar Generator to see how well they would do at charge DeWalt batteries for power tools. We tested them with a 20v battery powered DeWalt drill, power impact driver, and a DeWatt heated jacket. We wanted to test a battery powered DeWalt circular saw, but we were unable to get anyone from DeWalt to call us back.

We did not have an actual project to build, so we could not give a real world example of how much solar power would be needed to build a shed, a chicken coop or any other structure. The good news is that regardless of how long it takes, the sun will provide energy to charge batteries day after day. And at a maximum of 200-watts of solar power production you could theoretically charge 10 batteries at once. It took about 2 hours to charge one of the 20v batteries from DeWalt. We tested two battery chargers and three batteries, meaning you could be charging two batteries, while using one to do some work.

Kobalt 80V Battery Back Powered Lawn Tools
We also tested a Kobalt lawn mower, weed eater, hedge trimmer, and a leaf blower. We did not have an electric chainsaw, but wished we had one to test. The amount of power that can be generated by the 80-volt batteries is amazing. It takes a lot longer to charge them, but living off grid you have nothing but time. We really liked being able to pull up to a dispersed camping spot and use the weed eater to carve a perimeter fence line, then used the lawn mower to mow a large 1/4 acre spot. The leaf blower seemed unnecessary, but after collecting firewood and pine needles that were damp, the fire would only smoke and we had a hard time getting lit. However turn on a leaf blower on and blow air into the small amount of coals you have, presto you’ll have a bonfire. It works better than gasoline or lighter fluid and safer too.

How Long Will It Last

The main question most people want to know is what can it charge, how long will it take to charge certain devices like cell phones and laptops and how long does it take for the Bluetti Power Station to recharge

AC Rated Power – 800-watt with capacity for 1400-watt surge capacity
Power Inverter – 800-watt pure sine wave inverter
Battery Rate Capacity – 716-Watt Hours, 2,500 Charge Life Cycles.
Battery Type – Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFe-PO4) – long lasting and very safe to use

Net Weight21 lbs for the portable power station and 19 lbs for the fold up solar panels. Very easy to carry by children, women and men.

Dimensions
12.6 x 8.5 x 8.7 inches

Common Loads

Smart Phone 10-watts – Around 50-60 Charges
LED Light Bulbs 20-watts – Around 20-30 Hours
Heated Blanket (lowest setting) 75-watts – Around 7 – 8 Hours
Televisions 75-watts – Around 7 – 8 Hours
Electronic Tools 80-watts – 7 – 8 Hours
Refrigerator 90-watts – 6 – 7 Hours
Slow Cooker 200-watts – 2 -3 Hours
Countertop Ice Maker 175-watts – 2 – 3 Hours
HVAC Mini Split AC/Heating – 500-watts 1 hour, but can run all day in the sun
Blenders, and many other kitchen appliances
Drones

Cons/Draw Backs

We didn’t find one single drawback except maybe the EB70S is too small for an Off Grid Living Homestead, but for camping, van life, or natural disaster situations it is the perfect solution. Nothing will give you more confidence than knowing you have a solar generator stored in the closet that doesn’t need any fuel to run, only sunshine. Trust once you see what to solar can do, you’ll definitely want more. The Bluetti Portable Power Station/Solar Generators are the cheapest way to get started with solar. And they are modular, so that you can add more and more solar panels and batteries as your budget allows.

Pros/Advantages

The main advantage of ordering and using a Bluetti Portable Power Station is that everything is prewired and plug and play. This is the perfect solution for learning about solar power. And the good news it that Bluetti Power Stations are highly scalable. Regardless of what your starting budget is, you can alway buy more stack the Power Stations together to increase the watt hours of battery storage as well as increase the surge wattage capacity. They do this so that people can increase the power to sufficiently run a very large household on solar power and batteries.

Where Can You Buy One?
You can buy the setup shown in these pictures for a little over $1,068.00 using this link => https://bit.ly/3Ml9Ngq.

Arizona OffGrid Construction Services Co-Operative™

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Welcome to the Arizona OffGrid
Construction Services Co-Operative™ Page

Have you recenty purchased land in Arizona and are now searching for construction services to help you make necessary improvements to your land at the most affordable price possible?

All members of the Arizona OffGrid Construction Services Cooperative will enjoy affordable construction services since we are a non-profit organization. We provide many different types of services that are provided at cost or very near cost plus enough to pay our employees enough to make good salary for working hard every day to help our customers carve out a homestead on the raw land they have purchased.

Our construction crews can do everything from building t-post / solar-powered electric fences to keep out cattle, to using heavy machinery to bulldoze new roads and level out drive ways, to clearing out and removing trees, tree stumps, bushes, rock and boulders to make room for a building gravel pads for RVs/double-wide trailers as well as digging and pouring cement footers for pier-and-beam and cement foundations for new homes, cabins, sheds and manufactured homes.

Need a well drilled, water lines dug and pipes laid, or a new septic system installed? No problem! We are a non-profit, cooperative and will build all of these things for most affordable price possible.

In addition, we have a staff of licensed contractors, including:

Computer Aided Design (CAD) Services – for generating customized, floor-plan drawings that can be submitted to county permit offices.
Carpenters – for building anything with wood. Predator-proof chiken coops, rabbit huts, bee hives to wooden decks and pergolas to outbuildings, sheds, cabins and regular stick-framed homes. You name it, we can frame it.
Electricians – for installing solar systems, battery backup banks and back up generators to wiring entire homes and barns with AC and DC outlets.
Plumbers – for installing water lines/drip lines for gardens to rainwater collection systems to plumbing homes with cold and hot water lines for kitchen, bathrooms and washrooms to water solutions for live stock.
Stone Masons – for building stone fireplaces, rock/brick fire pits and gabion rock-baskets for rock retaining walls.
Solar Panel /Power Inverter Installers – for building small, medium and large solar power arrays to provide free, clean, green electricity.
Rainwater Collection Experts – for building small, medium and large rainwater harvesting systems that are large enough to collect a years worth of water supply from a single monsoon thunderstorms.
Build Predator Proof Chicken Coops – for raising chickens, ducks, geese and other types of birds for eggs, meat and feathers.
Bee Hive Apiary Specialists – for designing and building beehives with safety in mind for healthy bee populations, teaching best bee raising practices, and teaching off griders what type of gardens, trees, bushes and wildflowers to produce the most profitable types of honey. OffGridders can also participate in raising bees to participate in pollination programs that rent and transport bees to California once a year.

Raised Bed Gardens/Aquaponic Garden System Installers – for building gardens with perfectly pH balanced water/soil garden growing beds, water lines and drip systems and/or standard greenhouses and/or high-tunnel gardens.
Food Shelter Belts Arborists – for planting shrubs, berry bushes, fruit and nut trees that serve as wind breaks, but with the side benefits of growing food for homesteaders and the wildlife around them.
Natural Swimming Pools – for designing and digging stock tanks and natural swimming pools that use aquatic plants to filter the water to keep it clear as well as doubling as a pond for raising fish.
USDA-Backed Loans – there are government backed loans and grants that offgrid homesteaders can get from the federal government to help them obtain loans for improving their properties. But you have to work with licensed contractors for them to approve a loan contact us for more details.
Land Concierage Services – for landowners that haven’t moved onto their land yet, many times discover that it can be a burden to keep paying land rent payments, Property Owners Association (POA) dues and annual property taxes with no return-on-investment.

Our land concierge experts will teach land owners how to make minimal investments in building chicken coops, raised bed gardens, bee hives and building small tiny homes that can be rented out as an AirBNB properties to people who want to give the living off the grid experience a try.

It’s hard to make money as an individual homesteader trying to sell extra eggs, garden produce or raw honey in low volumes to the general public, but when a property owner participates in a cooperative that aggregates these types of products and sells them to a distributor, the process becomes much easier and more profitable.

# # #

Interested in joining the Arizona OffGrid Construction Services Co-Op?

Fill out this form:

Cascade Solar Unveils Affordable Solar Power Kits for Off Grid Sheds, Cabins and Homes for Unbeatable Prices

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Searching for a cost-effective solar power kit
to provide electricity for your OffGrid Shed, Cabin or Container Home or Tiny House?

Cascade Solar Groad Mount Solar for Off Grid Sheds, Cabins and Homes

Cascade Solar offers the best deal/cost-per-watt on turnkey solar power systems that provide everything needed, including batteries!

August 25, 2023 – Cascade Solar is now offering turnkey solar power systems in 1-kW, 3-kW, 5-kW, 8-kW and 10-kW plug and play configurations for best price you will find anywhere in the United States. All of their systems include premium -0/+5% solar panels, 97% efficiency power inverters, 12v 250 Ah AGM batteries, combiner boxes, PV electricity wiring, MC4 connectors, and roof or ground mount racking systems.

Each one of the solar power arrays featured below offers the best prices that were negotiated due to Cascade’s high-volume discounts. All of these systems include at least one battery and a power inverter with plenty of room to add additional strings of solar panels as a homestead expands.

In other words, these systems are engineered to make it easy to add more solar panels and batteries as more and more solar electricity is needed or as the customer has more funds to spend on solar on a year-by-year basis.

Solar systems/battery banks can be expanded as budget allows upgrades:

The low-end systems can be expanded from 1.2-kW up to 5-kW of solar panels.
The high-end systems can be expanded from 5-kW up to 10-kW of solar panels.
All Battery Banks include at least one 10-hour AGM battery. Extra batteries $439 each. Lithium Ion battery packs are available at a significantly higher price!
We carry Solar Panels from Q-Cell (quoted below) and LG (available upon request).

U.S. Federal Solar Tax Credit – 30% Tax Credit Write Off on 2024 Tax Returns

The U.S. 26% federal solar tax credit expires on 12/31/20. In addition to the great prices, customers who pay taxes at the end of the year can write off 26% of the total cost of their solar system installation on their 2023 federal tax return. Some states also offer solar tax credits.

1.2-kilowatt Turnkey Off Grid Solar System for RVs, Tents & Small Sheds – $5,162.46

$5,162.46
-$1,342.23 (tax write off) =
—————-
$3,820.23 Total Out of Pocket

Four 315-watt Q-Cells Mono-Crystalline -0/+5% ( 315-w panels X 4 = 1,260 watts)
DC Combiner Box – Breaker, SPD, Switches – 4 solar string inputs, 1 string output
5k 97% Efficient Hybrid Inverter with built-in Charge Controller/MPPT – Up to 5,000 watts
One 12v 250 Ah AGM Battery* with Cables – (Extra batteries only $439 each)
PV Electrical Wiring – 150 ft roll
Plug and Play MC4 Connectors for connecting panels
Full Ground-Mount Racking System
1,260-watts x 5 sun hours per day = 6.3-kWh per day/189-kWh per month
At $0.11 cents per watt, this is worth $20.79 worth of free electricity
Break even point. Cost $5,162.47/$20.79 month free electricity = 248 months to break even
Total Cost $5,162.46 / 1,260 watts = $4.09 per watt for comparison shopping
Federal Tax Credit = $1,342.23 can be deducted from 2024 U.S. federal tax returns
Doesn’t include Taxes or Shippping that are based on final shipping address

3.1-kilowatt Turnkey Off Grid Solar System for Cabins, Yurts and Log Homes – $8,340.45

$8,340.45
-$2,168.51 (tax write off) =
—————-
$6,171.94 Total Out of Pocket

Ten 315-watt Q-Cells Mono-Crystalline -0/+5% ( 315-w panels X 10 = 3,150 watts)
DC Combiner Box – Breaker, SPD, Switches – 4 solar string inputs, 1 string output
5k 97% Efficient Hybrid Inverter with built-in Charge Controller/MPPT – Up to 5,000 watts
Four 12v 250 Ah AGM Batteries with Cables – 1,000 Ah battery bank (extra batteries $439)
PV Electrical Wiring – 150 ft roll
Plug and Play MC4 Connectors for connecting panels
Full Ground-Mount Racking System
3,150-watts x 5 sun hours per day = 15.75-kWh per day/472.5-kWh per month
At $0.11 cents per watt, this is worth $51.97 worth of free electricity
Break even point. Cost $8340.45/$51.97 month free electricity = 160 months to break even
Total Cost $8,340.45 / 3,150 watts = $2.64 per watt for comparison shopping
Federal Tax Credit = $2,168.51 can be deducted from 2024 U.S. federal tax returns
Doesn’t include Taxes or Shippping that are based on final shipping address

5.0-kilowatt Turnkey Off Grid Solar System for Cabins, Yurts and Log Homes – $13,262.78

$13,262.78
-$3,448.32 (tax write off) =
—————–
$9,814.46 Total Out of Pocket

Sixteen 315-watt Q-Cells Mono-Crystalline -0/+5% ( 315-w panels X 10 = 5,040 watts)
DC Combiner Box – Breaker, SPD, Switches – 4 solar string inputs, 1 string output
5k 97% Efficient Hybrid Inverter with built-in Charge Controller/MPPT – Up to 5,000 watts
Six 12v 250 Ah AGM Batteries w/Cables = 1,500 Ah battery bank (extra batteries $439 each)
PV Electrical Wiring – 150 ft roll
Plug and Play MC4 Connectors for connecting panels
Full Ground-Mount Racking System
5,040-watts x 5 sun hours per day = 25.2 kWh per day/756 kWh per month
At $0.11 cents per watt, this is worth $83.16 worth of free electricity
Break even point. Cost $13,262.78/$83.16 month free electricity = 159 months to break even
Total Price of $13,262.78 / 5,040 watts = $2.63 per watt for comparison shopping
Federal Tax Credit = $3,448.32 can be deducted from 2024 U.S. federal tax returns
Doesn’t include Taxes or Shippping that are based on final shipping address

8.1-kilowatt Turnkey Off Grid Solar System for Cabins, Yurts and Log Homes – $18,667.89

$18,667.89
-$4,853.65 (tax write off) =
—————–
$13,814.24 Total Out of Pocket

Twenty-six 315-watt Q-Cells Mono-Crystalline -0/+5% ( 315-w panels X 26 = 8,190 watts)
DC Combiner Box – Breaker, SPD, Switches – 4 solar string inputs, 1 string output
10k 97% Efficient Hybrid Inverter with built-in Charge Controller/MPPT – Up to 10,000 watts
Eight 12v 250 Ah AGM Batteries with Cables = 2,000 Ah battery bank (extra batteries $439)
PV Electrical Wiring – 150 ft roll
Plug and Play MC4 Connectors for connecting panels
Full Ground-Mount Racking System
8,190-watts x 5 sun hours per day = 40.95-kWh per day/1228.5-kWh per month
At $0.11 cents per watt, this is worth $135.13 worth of free electricity
Break even point. Cost $18,667.89/$135.13 month free electricity = 138 months break even
Total Cost $18,667.89 / 8,190 watts = $2.27 per watt for comparison shopping
Federal Tax Credit = $4,853.65 can be deducted from 2024 U.S. federal tax returns
Doesn’t include Taxes or Shippping Costs that are based on final shipping address

10.0-kilowatt Turnkey Off Grid Solar System for Cabins, Yurts and Log Homes – $19,942.47

$19,942.47
-$5,185.04 (tax write off) =
—————–
$14,757.43 Total Out of Pocket

Thirty-two 315-watt Q-Cells Mono-Crystalline -0/+5% ( 315w panels X 26 = 10,080 watts)
DC Combiner Box – Breaker, SPD, Switches – 8 solar string inputs, 1 string output
10k 97% Efficient Hybrid Inverter with built-in Charge Controller/MPPT – Up to 10,000 watts
Eight 12v 250 Ah AGM Battery with Cables = 2,000 Ah battery bank (extra batteries for $439)
PV Electrical Wiring – 150 ft roll
Plug and Play MC4 Connectors for connecting panels
Full Ground-Mount Racking System
10,080-watts x 5 sun hours per day = 50.4-kWh per day/1,512-kWh per month
At $0.11 cents per watt, this is worth $166.32 worth of free electricity
Break even point. Cost $19,942.47/$166.32 month free electricity = 119 months break even
$19,942.47 / 10,080 watts = $1.97 per watt
Federal Tax Credit = $5,185.04 can be deducted from 2024 U.S. federal tax returns
Doesn’t include Taxes or Shippping Costs that are based on final shipping address

Which Solar Electric Kit Will Be Enough to Power My Entire Home?

For most off grid sheds, cabins and homes in the United States, one of the solar systems above should provide more than enough solar electricity to power your entire off grid homestead. These off grid systems are not designed to be used with a grid-tied home, but will accomodate a backup generator should it be needed during long periods of cloudy days when needed to charge up the battery bank.

Most of these systems price out to be less than a $3.00 per watt, which is way more affordable than most solar installation companies will charge you. You will save thousands of dollars by doing all of the solar installation work yourself.

We do recommend hiring a journeyman electrician to oversee the wiring and grounding portion of the installation. And maybe a general handyman to help with pouring the cement footers for the ground mount and digging trenches and/or installing conduit pipe when running wiring underground from the array to the house or utility closet where the batter banks are located.

All of solar power kits, ranging from 1-kW to 10-kW system include everything you’ll need including solar panels, power inverter with built in MPPT charge controller, batteries, wiring and the racking system for a ground mount. They are complete turnkey solar systems that will provide sufficient electricity to power entire homes and/or businesses.

1st Question: How Much Solar Will Your Off Grid Homestead Need?

To figure out the how much solar your home will need, make a list of all the appliances you use in your current home: satellite dish, TV, computer, kitchen appliances, refrigerator, freezer, washer/dryer, lights, etc. You can either use a Kill a Watt Meter or an electric calculator to calculate out how much electricity everything uses. Another way to estimate electric needs is to gather your last 12 months of electric bills to see how many total kWh you are using now on a monthly basis and add up the last 12 months. Most homes use about 30-kWh per day or 900-kWh per month.

2nd Question: How Much Space Is Needed to Build an Ground Mount Solar Power Array?

A 1-kW of solar power panels typically requires 100 square feet or less of space. So 1-kW of panels will take up approximately 100 sq. ft. of space. 3-kW would take up to 300 sq. ft. 10-kW will need 1,000 sq. ft. Solar Panels and batteries should be as close as possible to where the electricity will be used to prevent line loss.

3rd Question: How Much Solar Energy Will My Solar System Generate?

The amount energy that can be generated by solar panels is dependent on how many sun hours your homestead receives each day. PVWatts is a good resource for determining how many watts your system will generate. Or you can look at a solar sun hour map below. In the southwest United States, most places in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas will receive 5 sun hours during winter months and up to 8 hours of sun during the summer months.

Sun Hour Map of the United States

Actual power generated will vary based on location, equipment and installation factors. Refer to your electric utility bill to find the actual kWh used per month and then find the solar system that produces a similar amount of kWhs.

What is included in my Solar Power Installation Kit?

Our kits provide all the solar components you need from start to finish:

Solar Panels – PV modules with 25-year warranties, high effiicency and a -0/+5% power tolerance.
Off Grid Hybrid Inverters – includes a 97% efficient MPPT battery charge controller
Wiring and Waterproof MC4 Connectors – everything you need to connect the solar panels, batteries to the home’s electric utility panel/breaker box
Racking and Attachments – Industrial strength ground racking mounts for installing solar panels on the ground to allow for easy cleaning and snow removal.
Solar Power Monitoring Displays – Free with every kit purchase! Digital read out displasy allow customers to view and analyze theiring solar energy production in real-time.
Not Included – Concrete, schedule 40 pipe, conduit pipe, fittings, breakers, junction boxes and a sub panel (if required). All these items can be purchased at any electrical supply shop, Home Depot or Lowes, and will typically cost ~$1,500.

Can I Install a 1-kW to 10-kW Ground Mount System Myself?

Most people can install a ground-mounted solar system on their own in a couple of days.
Our kits use industry leading solar panels, inverters, and racking systems specifically selected and combined to make do-it-yourself installation possible.
A homeowner who has wired up AC outlets before and is comfortable working with electricity should be able install our off grid solar systems.
If self-installation is not for you, we can help you find a local NABCEP-certified solar installer to help you with the process in your area.

What does a typical solar installation process include?

A typical solar ground-mounted system for a home can be installed within one or two weekends once a permit is obtained from your city or county. After that, it’s just several easy steps until you’re system is producing solar electricity from the sun’s endless and free energy.

First, the racking and mounting system must be installed. This is the most laborious process of the solar installation process. You have to dig deep holes and pour concrete footers.
Once the racking and mounting system is secured in the ground, the solar panels and inverters can be quickly installed. The inverter(s) are then tied to the home through a dedicated circuit breaker in the main service panel.
When the installation is complete, your city or county inspector must sign off on it. You can accomplish this by scheduling an inspection meeting with them.
Lastly, you must get the system inspected by the local permit authority.

What If I Need to Hire a Contractor to Do All of the Installation Work for Me?

Any licensed general, electrical or solar contractor can install our solar kits. If you select to hire a contractor to install your solar kit, you should expect to pay approximately $1.00 per watt for labor, wire, conduit, fittings, breakers and other miscellaneous electrical components to complete the solar system installation.

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Sound good, but you’d like to talk to a real person to walk you through the solar purchase decision and solar installation process? Fill out this form so we can review your property location, examine possible shade from tree cover and calculate the number of solar hours that your property should receive and how many kWhs your solar system should produce.

Living-Off-Grid.com Magazine Unveils New State-by-State Buyer’s Guide Detailing Where the Best Places Are to Buy an Off Grid Property in the United States

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In addition, Living-Off-Grid.com also offers a “Guide to Off Grid Living” that provides over 100 chapters of information on producing solar power, rainwater collection, growing gardens, raising livestock and everything a family needs to build a self sustaining homestead

Living-Off-Grid.com – Rustic Log Cabin in the Mountain Forest’s Fall Foliage

Austin, Texas (May 26, 2020) – Living Off Grid Magazine announced today that it is now offering a State-by-State Directory of the Best Off Grid Properties for Sale in the United States as well as a Free Guide to Off Grid Living that details what is takes to start living off the grid for every state in United States.

The State-by-State Off Grid Land for Sale Directory and Guide to Off Grid Living were created to meet the pent up demand from city dwellers who are now actively seeking to buy rural ranch or farmland properties, then build an off the grid homestead due to these recent events:

California PG&E utility shutting off electricity to more than 2 million customers without warning and threatening to do so on a regular basis in the fture; and
News stories airing on the Coronavirus and COVID19 by ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and other TV News networks that provoked panic buying in grocery stores that first stripped grocery stores of toilet paper and cleaning supplies and then quickly followed suit with stories on meat processing plants closing across America, which led to panic buying of beef, chicken and pork; and
And, last but not least, ruthless Democrat state governors issuing mandatory police state quarantines ordering all Americans to cease going to work and not allowing people to earn a paycheck causing the loss of more than 20.5 million jobs throughout the United States.

These events have caused many quick thinking Americans to start shopping for the “best places” in United States to buy an “off grid” or “rural” piece of property so they could head for the hills to start setting up self-sustaining homesteads that would survive even if utility companies started shutting off critical services such as electricity, natural gas and water services and grocery stores were suddenly sold out of meat, vegetables and other food supply items.

Offgrid homesteads can replace on-grid electiricty with solar / wind power, and on-grid water with rainwater collection and grocery store food with homegrown gardens and live stock so that there is no need to be dependent on civilization to make ends meet.

“Regardless of whose fault it was for causing the COVID 19 pandemic, Americans are now frantically searching for 10 to 100 acre parcels of off grid raw land where they can distance themselves faraway from police state governments that are now threating to go door-to-door enforcing mandatory COVID19 testing and forcing citizens to inject unproven vaccinations, which may kill more people than the actual Coronavirus itself,” said Robert Hoskins, Living-Off-Grid.com’s Editor. “We’ve seen our Facebook (FB) Off Grid Homes Discussion Group’s membership numbers increase significantly. In the past 3 months, we have seen growth rates of more than 60% rising from from 2,800 members in March 2020 to 4,624 members in May 2020. Our actual increases were 15% in March, 22% in April, and another 25% forecast by the end of May.”

Facebook Off Grid Living: Prepping to Live Off the Grid Growth Stats 2020

“Our website’s Guide to Off Grid Living traffic also saw significant growth. For the entire year in 2019, we attracted around 2,690 readers that generated 5,230 page views.”

“Looking at the numbers for the first 5 months of 2020, our circulation has increased from 2,690 to 17,973 readers who have generated approximately 36,331 page views, up 6,930%. If this trend continues the magazine will have more than 41,000 readers generating 87,000 page views by then end of 2020.”

Living Off Grid Magazines’ Guide to Off Grid Living Website Annual Stats

“As a result of the massive pent up the demand for ‘Off Grid’ information we’ve even been getting calls from TV reality series program directors asking us to help them put together reality TV show treatments and story ideas for them to begin producing new off grid reality TV shows,” Hoskins added.

“After surveying more than 6,640 off-grid FB group members, we’ve found that our members would be most interested in helping TV producers and program directors putting together an Off Grid version of PC Magazine, but with editorial targeting off grid homesteaders, which would include Off Grid Product Roundups, Off Grid Buyer’s Guides and Off Grid Equipment Bakeoffs to help off-gridders make educated purchase decisions for big ticket items such as rainwater collection cisterns, aquaponic garden setups, high-end wood-burning stoves and solar power arrays that can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000.”

In addition, members stated that the off grid industry lacks an organized supply chain of value-added resellers and distributors or rural area buying cooperatives where off grid customers can see live demonstrations of working products and take education courses to help them make better purchase decisions.

Many feel that establishing off grid buying cooperatives would be a great way to generate economic development in very poor rural areas and counties where jobs are extremely difficult to find and where off grid communities are beginning to see rapid growth and expansion. Buying cooperatives are the perfect way to generate loans and grants requests for the USDA, which can be the driving force in rural economic development.

Specialized training classes are esssential for helping educate a local workforce installers, dirt movers, septic system installers, home builders, rainwater collection and solar installation experts that newcomers can turn to for expert installation of off grid products and services that every rural homestead will need. This process will generate a workforce of installers that can start news businessses that will would create good paying jobs as well as provide lots of installation companies that compete for new land owners business. Competition for these new products and services helps drive prices down and makes it very affordable to build new off grid homesteads.

About Living Off Grid Magazine

Living-Off-Grid.com provides a magazine with circulation of ~18,000+ readers and two Facebook Discussion Groups with ~ 6,640 members and business pages that allow people to follow, like and share information about what it takes to start a living-off-the-grid lifestyle anywhere in the United States.

Click on the links below to learn more:

Living Off Grid Magazine => http://living-off-grid.com/

State-by-State “Off Grid Land for Sale” Directory => https://livingoffgrid.home.blog/blog/

Facebook Discussion Groups:

Guide to Off Grid Homes => https://www.facebook.com/groups/OffGridHomes/
Guide to Off Grid Living => https://www.facebook.com/GuidetoOffGridLiving/

Facebook Business Pages:

Living Off Grid in Arizona => https://www.facebook.com/groups/nazlog/
Living Off Grid in California => https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOffGridLiving/
Living Off Grid in New Mexico => https://www.facebook.com/NewMexicoOffGridLiving/
Living Off Grid in New York => https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkOffGridLiving/
Living Off Grid in Texas => https://www.facebook.com/TexasOffGridLiving/

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Contact:
Robert Hoskins
Living-Off-Grid.com
512-627-6622

How to Start Living Off the Grid in North Carolina

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Searching for Information on How to Start Living Off Grid in North Carolina? Our Living-Off-Grid.com Site Provides Everything You Need to Research Before Building an Off Grid Cabin in North Carolina

How to Start Living Off Grid in North Carolina

Have questions about what it will take to live off the grid in North Carolina? Visit Living-Off-Grid.com to learn how to buy land in North Carolina, select the type of home you want to build, size your solar power array for electricity, build a rainwater collection system for fresh water, provide heat with a wood stove, grow a raised bed garden, and more.

Who Wants to Start Living Off the Grid in North Carolina?

What is the Best Way to Find Affordable Off Grid Land for Sale in North Carolina?

What Kind of Off Grid Home Would You Like Build in North Carolina?

How Much Solar Will You Need for Electricity in North Carolina?

How Much Rainwater Will You Need to Harvest in North Carolina?

How Will You Heat Your Off Grid Cabin in North Carolina?

How Will You Provide Food for Your Family in North Carolina?

How to Build Fences/Roads for Off Grid Properties in North Carolina?

Search other Best States for OffGrid Living:

AL , AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, W V, WI, WY

Best Countries to Live OffGrid Outside the United States

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Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3

Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.

On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).

Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Please like, follow us and share our content via:

- Facebook
- Instagram
- LinkedIn
- Pinterest
- Twitter

Sign Up for Our Monthly “Off Grid Living in North Carolina” Newsletter:

Homes for Living Off Grid in New Jersey

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Searching for Information on How to Start Living Off Grid in New Jersey? Our Living-Off-Grid.com Site Provides Everything You Need to Research Before Building an Off Grid Cabin in New Jersey

How to Start Living Off Grid in New Jersey

Have questions about what it will take to live off the grid in New Jersey? Visit Living-Off-Grid.com to learn how to buy land in New Jersey, select the type of home you want to build, size your solar power array for electricity, build a rainwater collection system for fresh water, provide heat with a wood stove, grow a raised bed garden, and more.

Who Wants to Start Living Off Grid in New Jersey?

Living Off Grid - Dante DiPirro is a lawyer who lives off grid in East Amwell Township, New Jersey

Living Off Grid – Dante DiPirro is a lawyer who lives off grid in East Amwell, New Jersey

What is the Best Way to Find Affordable Off Grid Land for Sale in New Jersey?

What Kind of Off Grid Home Would You Like Build in New Jersey?

How Much Solar Will You Need for Electricity in New Jersey?

How Much Rainwater Will You Need to Harvest in New Jersey?

How Will You Heat Your Off Grid Cabin in New Jersey?

How Will You Provide Food for Your Family in New Jersey?

How to Build Fences/Roads for Off Grid Properties in New Jersey?

Search other Best States for OffGrid Living:

AL , AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, W V, WI, WY

Best Countries to Live OffGrid Outside the United States

# # #

Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3

Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.

On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).

Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Please like, follow us and share our content via:

Sign Up for Our Monthly “Off Grid Living in New Jersey” Newsletter:

Off Grid, Grid-Tied or Hybrid Solar Power Array – Which Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts?

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Which Solar Power Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts? Off Grid, Grid-Tied or a Hybrid Solar Power Array?

Off Grid, Grid-Tied or Hybrid Solar Power Array - Which Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts

Off Grid, Grid-Tied or Hybrid Solar Power – Which Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts

Woburn, Massachusetts – As energy rates spike and frustrations with local utility companies continue to increase, a growing number of homeowners here in Massachusetts are seeking out ways to become more energy independent. Boston Solar often gets asked if it is possible to go completely off-grid with solar in Massachusetts for remote cabins and off grid properties.

Boston Solar says that installing solar is one of the best investments off-gridders can make for greater energy independence, and consulting with customers on what the best options are for families that are trying to decide exactly how much energy usage they need to offset for 24×7 operation.

For example, will homesteaders reduce their reliance on the power grid significantly by installing a grid-tied solar PV system, or will they want to cut ties to the local utility completely by installing an off-grid system? Or, will you opt for an in-between, hybrid option? We’ll explain what each of these systems means and help you choose which solar system is right for your home.

Which Solar Power Array Configuration is the Best?

One of the most important decisions you will need to make when you invest in residential solar is whether to install a grid-tied, off-grid, or hybrid system and understand what each of these mean. Here is a brief look at the benefits of each option, and what the implications are for your solar panel installation.

Grid-Tied Solar Power Array

Grid-tied solar systems are designed to provide a large percentage of your electricity needs while still allowing you to draw from the power grid as needed. During the day when the sun is shining, your grid-tied system supplies free and clean power for your home. Then, at night, you draw any electricity you need from the power grid.

Grid-tied systems are a popular option here in Massachusetts because they have a lower upfront cost but still offset a significant portion of a household’s electrical needs. Plus, if your solar system generates more electricity than you need during the day, you have the option to “sell” that electricity back to your local utility for credit if your utility participates in net metering.

Off Grid Solar Power Array

If you want to completely cut ties with your local utility company, you must install an off-grid system. Off-grid solar systems have more solar panels, plus a backup generator and enough battery storage to provide 100% of a household’s electricity needs.

Off-grid solar is typically only for properties that do not have access to the utility grid. If you are someone who heavily values energy independence and therefore want to minimize your reliance on the grid but not fully ready to go completely off-grid, you may want to consider a hybrid system.

Hybrid Solar Power Array

If you are looking for something like a hybrid of grid-tied and off-grid solar, you might consider a grid-tied system with a solar battery. This option is similar to an off-grid system in that it features battery storage, but it is not large enough to provide 100% of your electricity needs.

With this option, you can enjoy the greater energy independence that solar-plus-storage offers, without installing quite as large or expensive of a system on your property. Keep in mind, however, that solar batteries are still relatively expensive compared to solar panels.

Want to speak to an off grid solar expert? Call Boston Solar at 617-841-8484.

# # #

Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3

Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.

On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).

Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Van Life – Talking to Jess Meyrick about Living Off Grid in a Van, Minimalist Living and Travel Blogging

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Can Van Life Be Difficult, Living in Such a Small Space?

Living Off Grid – Van Life – Talking to Jess Meyrick about Living Off Grid in a Van, Minimalist Living and Travel Blogging

California – From the way she speaks about it, I can tell the van is more than just a means of transportation to Jess, it’s a home. Despite the inevitable lack of space and sometimes messy practicalities, the freedom makes it all worth it.

I discover the van has a full size double bed, wardrobe, seating and kitchen area. Jess and Will have even managed to squeeze in a small shower/tub – and a fridge that pulls out from a drawer under their bed!

“We wanted the ability to live off grid without needing to stay in campsites. The van has solar panels on the roof that generate all the electricity we need for lights, fridge and charging ports.”

When I dare to ask how they dispose of waste on the road, Jess laughs, “without sounding too gross, the worst bit is definitely the bathroom department.” They decided a ‘porta potty’ was a necessity for the van, especially during the winter in the mountains. But it’s not as messy as you’d think, “we just dispose of the wastewater at campsites or service stations sewage dump locations.”

Living a Minimalist Van Life, Sustainable Lifestyle

Jess concludes that living minimally is more of a state of mind. “We actually travel very lightly in the van – we quickly realized from our first trip how little we use.”

The key is to conserve your resources and live within your means, she says. The couple explain that their 80-litre water tank can last them three days, while still showering and using the water for washing up.

“On average, one person in the UK uses approx. 140 litres of water a day,” Jess tells me, “so what we’ve realized is, it’s not about sacrificing, it’s simply about being considerate.”

Houses Built for Off-Grid Living Include Earthships Built with Hemp, Hay, Rainwater Collection and Passive Solar Heating

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Off-grid living can vary widely, but generally embraces a sustainable, autonomous lifestyle including generating your own solar power, rainwater collection, waste removal/sewage solutions (such as a worm farm waste system) and growing indoor aquaponic gardens

Living Off Grid – Houses Built for Off-Grid Living Include Earthships, Hemp and Hay

Adelaide, Australia – Kathy Menzel says she used to be completely oblivious to power bills, “just running along in the hamster wheel like everybody else, you know, busy, busy, busy, spend, spend, spend”. She and her husband Bob, both IT professionals, did have an inkling they wanted something different though, yearning for a serene country lifestyle with no neighbors.

When they finally found their dream block in the Adelaide Hills, reality hit home. “We’d been looking for five years for this great piece of land in the middle of nowhere but still easy to commute to the city,” she says. “But it was going to cost $450,000 to get on to the grid.” The cost of connecting was far more than the $238,000 for the 10 acre block, which was only 1.5km from a main road.

Undeterred, Menzel researched sustainable housing and calculated their energy and water needs. The result was a self-sufficient home they’ve been enjoying for four years now – which cost $150,000 less than the price of connecting to the grid. “It’s completely changed my way of living and my whole understanding of everything to do with energy waste and carbon,” she says of her new minimalist, eco-friendly lifestyle.

These days Menzel is acutely aware of her energy and water consumption. “It’s not an endless resource; someone’s paying for it somewhere, and I mean look at the climate – the Earth is paying for it, isn’t it?”

What are the challenges and perks? “Oh, just perks,” she laughs.

For one reason or another, Australians are increasingly taking up the gauntlet while governments drag their feet on sustainable housing regulations. Even the six-star building standards, for instance, just don’t cut it, says Menzel. “You know, you can put windows wherever you like and you can just run a big great air-conditioning system and pay a fortune.”

They built their home guided by “passive house” principles, achieving a 7.9-star energy rating. With no air-conditioning and a combustion heater for cold winter evenings, she says it never goes below 16C or above 26C inside in a region that dips below zero in winter and can soar over 40C in summer. Two rainwater tanks provide plenty of water, with enough to spare for the South Australian Country Fire Service.

Off-grid living can vary widely, but generally embraces a sustainable, autonomous lifestyle. This includes generating your own power, water, waste removal and sewage solutions (such as a worm farm waste system) and can extend to growing your own food.

Possibly the ultimate answer to sustainable living is the earthship, a passive solar shelter made from recycled tires, plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans. “You can use other stuff as well,” says expert Martin Freney. “Like you can salvage sheets of metal from car bodies and old fridges and washing machines and use them as roof shingles if you’re really creative.”

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How to Heat Off Grid Homes and Cabins with Trombe Walls and Passive Solar Window Heaters

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How to Build a Passive Solar Trombe Wall Heater that Can Be Made with Stones and Sheet Metal for Off Grid Homes and Cabins

Off Grid Living – How to Build a Passive Solar Heater Trombe Wall with Stones or Sheet Metal

How to Build a Passive Solar Furnace Heater Also Called Trombe Wall

Phoenix, Arizona – Solar can also be used to heat a shed, cabin or home with no electricity by building a passive solar furnace heater, which is very similar to building a solar hot water heater except that you’ll be heating air inside a black box with a window and using aluminum/tin cans, copper tubing, rocks or sheets of tin roofing that are painted black to absorb heat.

As hot air rises it will flow from the heated box into a colder structure at the top of the room while sucking in colder air at the bottom of the using a Trombe Wall vacuum air pattern. To improve circulation, you can add a solar attic fan that will air circulation dramatically.

How to Heat Homes with Passive Solar Heaters and Solar Attic Fans

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