Solar Energy | June 03, 2008 |
Money Saved By Getting Off the Grid
Forget utility bills. Off-grid systems are being installed with a quickness, thanks to a perfect storm of market conditions that result in savings when ratepayers unplug themselves from resource infrastructure. Off-grid expert estimates that about 400,000 people have unplugged, with that rate growing at an astounding thirty percent a year.
Users can not only break even, but are saving money by installing their own solar or wind infrastructure, drilling wells and growing their own food . These days being resource self-sufficient means being protected from wild swings in commodities markets and consumer prices. Policy has come around; a combination of subsidies, grants, green loans and other incentives has shortened the rate of return people can see in green building and off-grid investments, a rate of return that gets higher as nonrenewable energy costs rise. Another factor encouraging off-grid transitions is a dramatic drop in prices.
Aided by the LEED boom, which has made green building supplies a mainstream requirement, many green building features are markedly cheaper than a decade ago. Materials are being made better and more affordably; installation has fallen in price as environmental renovation services proliferate. These days, going off the grid, building green and providing for oneself environmentally is the economic choice, and no longer requiring much or any sacrifice in quality of living.
Read more at ENN.
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Comments By Readers
The words "A little information can be dangerous" comes to mind. Having lived both on-grid with a net-zero home (most months my solar power production equals my use)and off- grid for over 15 years...I know from where I speak.
It is false to say that going off-grid will save you money. When off the grid, power must be stored - usually in archaic lead-acid batteries with a short life span of 3-10 years, a toxic manufaturing process involving heavy metals, and a conversion and storage loss.
Bottom Line, if you're on grid now..it is far more economically prudent to stay on the grid with a grid tied solar or wind system.
Chris Prelitz, LEED ap
founder, New Leaf America
I keep my apt at a chilly 57 rdiung the winter, and turn it up to 60-62 sometimes in the evenings as a treat. My bf and I mostly bike and walk everything, and I buy gas less than once per month because of the limited driving. We could do better about our water conservation though, some of the other users have had great ideas! We are also mostly vegetarian and try to have a vegan day once a week. The meat we do buy is local grass fed, cage-free, or sustainably raised (depending on which animal we're talking about). My town has a great composting and recycling program, so we also participate in that. I am considering getting a CSA share this summer from a local farm that is close enough to bike to!Fighting against this is going to be an uphill battle and unfortunately, living in America, we are tied into an incredible energy expensive and wasteful system. The more we go off the grid and get off the system, the better! Live with as little as you can bear, most of the world is living with far less!
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