07-09-2007, 04:32 PM
Living off grid... You need about 10-15-20K bucks if you want to run a modern pump and efficient fridge from sears, mircowave, rice maker, bread maker, computers, TV's, lights, etc...etc...
It all depends on your life style how frugal you want to be. It also depends on how much sun hours you get per day. IE, lot's of clouds...
Everything else will have to run on gas, Stoves, Hot Water heaters, Dryers... You can buy a passive solar hot water heater... You will never be able to run AC or any type of high wattage application with solar.
Best part living off grid other then paying the 15K upfront cost is not paying an electric bill. Also, being on the big island I think our electric costs are the highest in the nation at 41-43 cents a KW. So, it makes the most logical choice to go alternative power since it will pay for it self rather quickly.
Just make sure you get some decent 130+Watt solar panels and some deep cycle battery's.
It all depends on your life style how frugal you want to be. It also depends on how much sun hours you get per day. IE, lot's of clouds...
Everything else will have to run on gas, Stoves, Hot Water heaters, Dryers... You can buy a passive solar hot water heater... You will never be able to run AC or any type of high wattage application with solar.
Best part living off grid other then paying the 15K upfront cost is not paying an electric bill. Also, being on the big island I think our electric costs are the highest in the nation at 41-43 cents a KW. So, it makes the most logical choice to go alternative power since it will pay for it self rather quickly.
Just make sure you get some decent 130+Watt solar panels and some deep cycle battery's.