07-11-2008, 05:46 AM
Compact fluorescent bulbs? An "off" switch for the power going to your electronic items such as TV's, computers, printers, monitors, etc? They pull just as much power on hibernate or standby as they do fully powered up. Hang your laundry out to dry? (presuming you are using an electric dryer) Anything that makes heat with electricity is to be avoided at all costs. Electric blankets aren't too bad and small incubators aren't too bad but electric ranges, water heaters, ovens, etcetera are brutal. If you have an old refrigerator or freezer it might be time to replace it with a new one.
You would have to do all these energy saving things before switching over to an off grid system anyway so you may as well switch now and get the savings. When folks quote horrendous prices for installing an off grid systems they have generally used your current electric bill to calculate the size of the system. That may be why so many quotes are "unaffordable". I know of only one off grid system which runs an electric stove and their system is just insanely huge. So do everything you can to cut back on power and when you've got it down to just the bare minimum, get quotes on an off the grid system for that size. It might be more affordable than you think.
You would have to do all these energy saving things before switching over to an off grid system anyway so you may as well switch now and get the savings. When folks quote horrendous prices for installing an off grid systems they have generally used your current electric bill to calculate the size of the system. That may be why so many quotes are "unaffordable". I know of only one off grid system which runs an electric stove and their system is just insanely huge. So do everything you can to cut back on power and when you've got it down to just the bare minimum, get quotes on an off the grid system for that size. It might be more affordable than you think.
Kurt Wilson