Homesteader Depot

Tag: alternative energy

  • 15 Things That Will Help Conserve Your Home Energy

    15 Things That Will Help Conserve Your Home Energy

    In America, each person produces around 40,000 pounds of C02 emission each year. Those emissions are what contribute to the Earth’s global warming issue. Those pollutants can be decreased easily with a plethora of simple energy saving switches you can make in your life.

    Along with reducing the amount of oil, natural gas, and fossil fuels you are using, you also have the potential to save some real money. Altering your methods for energy use doesn’t mean that you’ll be going without the existing conveniences you have either. It just says that you’re doing so with a little bit more awareness.

    A million dollars worth of energy is being burnt up with every minute of the day all year long. You have the option of lowering those numbers along with your energy bill just by implementing a few of these switches in your own home.

    Make a Small Investment

    1. Contact a utility company and have them come and do an energy audit of your home, air conditioner, and furnace. It may be done at a low cost or even free for some.
    2. Purchase an insulating jacket for your water heater for about $20 and wrap it up. You will save 1100 pounds of C02 from an electric water heater. A gas water heater’s C02 emissions will go down about 220 pounds.
    3. Compact fluorescent bulbs cost a bit more than a standard light bulb, but after you make the purchase and installation, they are going to last up to eight to twelve times longer and use only about a quarter of the energy. The light illumination is the same, and you can save up to 260 pounds of C02 emissions annually.
    4. Weather stripping and caulk installed in your home will weatherize around the windows and doors so that the cold or warm air that you’re creating stays put, and the outside temperatures remain outdoors. Your appliances don’t have to work as hard to stay up to your desired thermostat setting.

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    Heating and Cooling

    1. You can reduce your heating emissions from your furnace by setting your thermostat two degrees lower in cold weather. It’s recommended to have it set at 68 in the day and 55 degrees at night. When it’s warm, keep your setting at 78.
    2. Keep your air conditioner and furnace air filters cleaned out. The dirtier they are, the harder your equipment has to work to achieve the desired temperature setting when they are operating through a clogged filter.

    Related Article:  Solar Energy Options for Homesteaders

    Home Appliances

    1. Make sure all of your gaskets in your fridge and freezer are sealed up correctly and working. Then, set your refrigerator to 37 degrees and your freezer to three degrees, or as close as you can get them to those numbers.
    2. Don’t put your washing machine setting on hot. You can use warm or cold water for doing laundry.
    3. You can save 20% of the energy used by your dishwasher by manually shutting off the drying cycle and letting your dishes air dry. Additionally, don’t run your machine until it is full.
    4. When replacing outdated appliances, check for the Energy Star label to ensure it’s an energy-efficient model. Don’t buy one that’s bigger than what you need.
    5. Check the setting on your water heater. In can generally be turned down about 20 degrees and still effectively produce water that’s warm enough for what you need.

    House Renovations

    1. Replace old windows with those that are double-glazed and argon filled for the best insulation.
    2. Shade trees planted near your home will reduce the amount of energy you use.
    3. If you live in a hot climate, paint your house a light color. In colder climates, dark-colored homes are more efficient.
    4. If your house isn’t properly insulated, now is the time to take care of that. It will reduce the CO2 emissions and lower your energy costs by 20% to 30% typically.

  • 4 Excellent Ways to Generate Your Own Electricity

    4 Excellent Ways to Generate Your Own Electricity

    Your goal as a homesteader is to become self-reliant. You want to grow your own food and preserve it for future use. You want to know that you and your family can survive even if disaster strikes.

    One of the most persistent challenges faced by a homesteader like you is generating electricity to power your home. Most people rely on public power sources – more commonly known as the grid – for the electricity they need.

    Homesteaders tend to live in rural areas where the grid may be less reliable. For them, finding alternatives is desirable and cost-effective.

    With that in mind, let’s talk about some of the methods you can use to generate your own electricity off the grid.

    Solar Energy

    One of the most popular ways to generate electricity off the grid is to install solar panels on or around your home. Photovoltaic (PV) panels collect energy from the sun.

    In addition to panels, you’ll need a solar system to transport energy from the panels. It should include a combiner box, a charge controller, solar batteries, and a DC-to-AC inverter to put the energy in a usable form.

    Photovoltaic panels can be expensive, but they also pay for themselves quickly. They’re a good option if you want to generate enough power for all your electricity needs.

    Wind Power

    Another electricity option that’s popular with homesteaders is wind energy. To harness the power of the wind, you’ll need at least one – but possibly several – wind turbines.

    To make effective use of wind turbines, you’ll need an open space that gets reasonably steady wind. Homesteaders who live in heavily wooded areas will need turbines that reach above the treetops to get good results.

    Keep in mind that turbines can be noisy. If you can set them up at a distance from the house, you can reduce the noise. As you would with solar panels, you’ll need batteries to store the energy you collect.

    Hydroelectric Power

    If you have the right type of moving water on your property, hydroelectric power can be a cost-effective way to generate the electricity you need.

    A simple moving stream won’t generate much power, although you could use it as a supplement to other power sources such as solar and wind.

    However, if you have a waterfall or a downhill river or stream, you can generate a significant amount of power.

    Power Generators

    It’s common for homesteaders to begin their experimentation with moving off the grid with a generator. There are two types to consider:

    1. Portable generators are small and usually run on gasoline. When your power goes out, you’ll have to connect appliances to the generator manually to get them to work.
    2. Standby generators are larger than portable generators. They run on propane or natural gas, and they come on automatically when there’s a power outage.

    As you might expect, portable generators are less expensive than standby generators. If you decide to try a portable generator, consider buying a model with wheels so you can move it from one place to another without a hassle.

    Combining Multiple Methods

    Many homesteaders don’t rely on one method of generating power for their homes. It’s common to combine two or more methods.

    For example, you might have solar panels on your roof and wind turbines set up in a nearby field. You might also keep a portable generator to use in emergencies. The key to choosing the best combination is to evaluate your home power needs and budget and choose accordingly.

    Have you tried any of these power generation methods at home? Tell us in the comments!

  • The Benefits of Solar Water Heaters

    The Benefits of Solar Water Heaters

    As the cost of energy rises, more and more people are looking toward solar power. One of the areas that interest them the most is solar water heating. While it can seem more expensive in the beginning, utilizing a solar water heater has the potential to provide you with a substantial amount of saved money in the long run. In addition, this will help to get you entirely off the grid.

    There are two different types of solar water heaters available – active and passive. The active systems use cells, pumps, and controllers as they move fluid through the system. The passive systems do not have any pump or electrical components. Of course, even within these two different types of water heaters, there are still many different types of choices to make. Do you want a direct or indirect system, for example?

    You can find companies that are able to install these solar water heaters for you, or you can check out some DIY projects and try to do them on your own. If you are handy and you are relatively certain you could create a solar water heater, or solar panels, on your own, then you might want to try this do-it-yourself route.

    You may still want to have a traditional water heater installed as a backup. However, solar energy may very well be the way of the future. It is also a good option for homesteaders because you are truly living off the land when you utilize the sun and cut down your reliance on traditional, expensive energy.

    The subject of solar power is a big one, and there is quite a bit to learn. If you are looking to truly get off the grid though, it might be just the thing for you to look into.

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