Please note that I am shifting to: http://www.offthegridhomes.org sometime real soon…………..kinda like………..this……….

Back to electricity. We have propane hot water-on-demand, a propane stove, a propane fridge and a propane freezer. So, we replaced a lot of common electrical appliances with more expensive, harder to find propane appliances to reduce the drain on the electrical system. And that helps no end.

In the long run, of course, energy is energy and you are still ‘feeding the beast’ (some corporation) when you buy propane rather than being linked to the grid conventionally. But not all óff-the-grid’ decisions are based on being idealistic, frugal or minimalistic. Sometimes you do it just because it works.

Out here we have a fabulous barge service that can fill my big propane container and I am then good for a year. No carrying, no batteries, no major infrastructure or high tech stuff to worry about. Just good ol’ gas. Easy. Simple. And it still allows me to be off-the-grid and independent.

For a year, anyway.

It’s a compromise.

My solar panels are 80 watt ‘ers. I have 8 of them. They are wired up to pump out 48 volts. In August, they are perfect. I can usually go the whole month just on the panels (if I started with a full charge and didn’t use many tools or big draws). Another 8 (someday, I hope) and I am covered for probably three whole months June, July and August. They have cost me about $5.00 a watt or $500 each when purchased. Plus the cost and labour of installing a ‘carrying structure’ for them to sit on. NOT cheap.

Today, the total watts per panel are generally higher (lowest is about 130. Highest about 240) and they are less cost on a per watt basis. I found some in Georgia advertised for $1.50 cents a watt. Canada, despite NAFTA and sometimes having a stronger dollar is always more expensive. No reason. We’re just easier to rip off. So, I doubt very much if you can do better than $3.00 a watt as I write but I am not as up to date as I could be.

I’d say a reasonable sized system for that imaginary 1500 sft house would be somewhere around 1500 watts. Of course, you can make a big difference on your overall ‘draw’ at 500 watts and you can boil away the lake in front of your house if you want to go much bigger but a reasonably ‘good investment’ estimate would suggest around 1500 watts. I’d be ecstatic at 1200 myself. Think: $10,000.

But, again, you have to have the battery capacity to ensure you store and use what you make. Sympatico.

One thing we don’t have is a dishwasher. That may have been an error. Sal is starting to rebel. My hands are turning pink. We are not happy. Having said that, a dishwasher is a big juice draw. Stupid big, really. And, if it is just the two of us we are OK. Mostly. But, when you have guests or a dinner party, the dishes thing can be a drag. I don’t have a good answer so I came up with a bad one. We tell the guests to wash up.

Well, we do that to the young people, anyway. When we can. The W’fers. The Chinese students. And sometimes family. Sally’s sister Mary is great! And that sharing-of-the-dishes-chore seems to have taken the ‘edge out of it’ for us. It’s not great hostessing but most people like to ‘chip in’ and so we say, “Really? Really? You want to help? Really? OK! Great. You’re on dishes. See ya later!”

Other than that, our power system is almost adequate. We always have light (but we turn them off when not in use), we always have enough juice for the computer, the movies and all the battery chargers. Power tools are no problem. But I can’t weld. No dishwasher. We ‘manage’ our usage and the system is demanding of maintenance and attention. It’s not all ‘buy it, install it and forget it.’

Alternative energy is a constant chore, a major initial investment, an ongoing expense, a challenge to your skills and abilities, a techie mystery and a fickle off-the-grid partner. (Not unlike a spouse now that I think about it.)

Remember: Sparks can fly