Lets go off-grid!

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Comment by Tom Bailey on November 2, 2009 at 6:11am

A huge help; for those like myself, (not comfortable face to face or good at speaking). Here are links to 2 places that you can easily drop a note to Newspapers and to your congressmen.
For the Newspaper site; What I do is compose a short letter (200 words) in my word program, allowing my spelling check as I’m a sandbox grad, I’ll even cut and paste “with permission” with energy concerns. Copy the letter and paste it in the message box, of this site , which gives you almost every paper. Hit send, & Presto you’re done. Pick a couple of papers at a time and if you could do this once a week you will be helping!
next= click to another link to write your congressmen. It will be preloaded with a general message. Please cut and paste to make it more personal.
We ask you also paste and copy your letter to your district leader. Touch with them and they can give you an e-mail address, as Pickens Plan site mail has a character # limit.

Comment by Aanica on October 24, 2009 at 9:39am

Thank you James!! I love to have like minded people help me with this project, you are so right with every word you have written! I hope we can reach more and get the word out making this move is a wonderful opportunity to help the planet and our pockets!

Comment by James McKirdy on October 24, 2009 at 9:30am

Going off grid is becoming more and more everyday. The question is who wants to go off grid. The answer is everyone. Most reasons are over paying for electric power. Some say it is the best way to have sustainable independence. And others say it can not be done. In applications for off grid solutions has been around a lot longer than net metering and selling power back to local electric utility companies. As a example how long has solar hot water heaters been around. The answer is over 500 years. Well before we even used electric power. Now today when you add a solar hot water heater to your home you are taking the task of producing hot water on your home off grid. This is a simple example. I have specialized in designing, developing, installing and selling off grid electric systems for many years. Almost all off grid solar systems years ago were used to power something usually where in a area where there was no grid service. Now more and more anyone paying a electric bill wants to go off grid for many reasons. Off grid is a lot easier to do than most people know. Look around on highways, cell phone towers, RR tracks even road signs use solar to power the application. We even have installed solar in farms for powering electric motors to pump water. It is not magic; it is just solving problems. If you think about it long enough you will find your cars and planes and just about every form of transportation is off grid.

Comment by Aanica on October 21, 2009 at 3:09pm

That is great Tom, from what I understand most utility companies do buy back the excess energy generated by your PV system. Making your investment an even faster return, Best of luck with your endeavors I salute you for making the transition! It’s scary for most because change is unknown
But once your system is in place then I will bet you start looking at even more investments in alternative energy's... I do highly recommend a solar water heater,
This will be a very nice return and endless hot water for nothing most of the time (after investment) they usually don't have to be changed but about every 15 years.

Comment by Tom Bailey on October 21, 2009 at 1:12pm

I would like to place some solar panels/units on our gently sloping east west facing field.
I have talked to my local power copany and hope to stir a mutual arrangement.
Best; Tom