Homesteader Depot

Tag: energy

  • Cooling Your Home Off-Grid

    Cooling Your Home Off-Grid

    Rather than rely on fossil fuels or nuclear energy to cool off your home this summer, why not go off-grid? These systems are just as effective, yet they use natural sources of power – not “standard” electricity in order to cool your home down. A geothermal system is just one example. You can also utilize green energy, like solar or wind power, in order to run the systems that will keep you cool all summer long. No matter what, you’ll save money and do your part to save the environment – while staying comfortable at the same time. There’s nothing quite like accomplishing all of that at once!

    Utilizing Solar Power

    There are several different types of solar power systems out there. All of them do the same thing – they soak up sunlight using solar panels. The sunlight is turned into electricity, and then it flows into your home. You can set up a system that’s completely off the grid, or you can choose one that is still hooked up to city or county power (i.e. standard electricity) that only kicks on should you need a backup system. It all comes down to how sunny your area is, as well as the type of system that you prefer. No matter what, you’ll be able to use this power to cool down your home without relying on any other methods. It’s designed to work well and be very efficient.

    >> Build Your Own Solar And Wind Power System – Click Here To See How <<

    Harness The Power of the Wind

    Depending on where you live, you might be able to set up a wind-powered system. These work much better in areas that have plenty of open space, as well as a fairly continuous nice breeze. Since there are laws against putting a giant wind-powered system in your city backyard, you’ll have to be in the country for this to work. With that said, it’s entirely possible to power your home – including your floor fans, ceiling fans, and more, with a wind-powered electrical system. Just make sure to choose one that saves up electricity in a series of batteries so that you’ll stay cool on those non-windy summer days.

    Create a Geothermal System

    Geothermal systems sound complicated, but they really aren’t. These systems are designed to use the cool temperatures found about five or six feet underground, using them to control the temperature in your home. It all starts with a single PVC pipe. You’ll need one that’s around four inches in diameter. Since the pipe may be prone to leaks, as well as insects and other things, make sure to seal off the underground end with a fine mesh screen and account for necessary drainage. After you have all of these pieces into place, a geothermal system just requires some general digging: the end of the pipe needs to be deep enough in the ground to take advantage of the consistent 50-degree temperatures found there. Once you have it in place, run the other end into your home and set up a fan so that the cool air circulates. This is a very simple geothermal system.

    Another geothermal method uses water in the form of a hose buried at the same distance under the ground. The water flows through the hose with the help of a water pump. A radiator on the inside uses the water in order to cool down air that flows throughout your home. Like the other system, only a little electricity is needed in order to run the pump, the fan, and the radiator. However, the system does run almost entirely off of the grid, especially if you choose to use solar or wind power.

    >> MIT Device Cuts Power Bills By 65% – Learn More <<

  • 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.

    Suggested:  This crazy 56-year-old geography teacher in Memphis, Tennessee believed he can change the energy world… and somehow he did.  Check it out here>>>

    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!

  • Calculating Your Wood for the Winter

    Calculating Your Wood for the Winter

    Many homesteaders prefer to utilize wood stoves to help offset the cost of other power sources. It can help them to limit their dependence on the electric company, and if they have solar panels as well, it could eliminate the need entirely. However, if you are going to use wood for heating and even for cooking, you need to make sure you have enough to last the entire winter.

    Think about how often you will be using the woodstove or the fireplace. If you will only be using it during the night, you will need to have less wood on hand than if you use it around the clock to keep the place warm. Also, are you using it to heat your entire house, or are you only using it to heat part of the house, or one of the outbuildings, for example.

    Understanding how much wood you will go through in a typical day will give you a better idea of how much you need. Generally, you will be buying wood in what is called “cords”. A cord of wood measures 4’ high and 4’ wide, while being 8’ long. You do not typically have to buy a full cord of wood though. You can also buy half a cord or even a third of a cord. Make sure you have a place on your property where you can keep the wood out of the weather so it remains nice and dry.

    You will likely have people in your area that sell firewood. If not, you may want to cut down some trees on your own property. When you are buying, it’s always better to have a bit more than you think you need, just so you don’t run the risk of having no wood part-way through the winter. After all, you can always keep the extra wood for the following winter.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Holistic Medicine Basics…

    Ever Considered Taking Yoga? Read this…

    The Ultimate Woodworking Course..

     

     

  • Battery Reconditioning: Limitless Homestead Energy

    Battery Reconditioning: Limitless Homestead Energy

    One of the biggest concerns for long-term self-reliance as a homesteader is energy. Most energy sources that we rely on seem to be finite. Especially if you are focused on survival when the grid goes down or being completely off-grid. Gasoline, propane, coal, even wood, all will run out at some point and are difficult to regenerate. Batteries in particular run out quickly, and rechargeable batteries can be costly and unreliable. But what if you could have nearly unlimited battery power …

    Gasoline, propane, coal, even wood, all will run out at some point and are difficult to regenerate without reliance on the grid. Batteries in particular run out quickly, and rechargeable batteries can be costly and unreliable. But what if you could have nearly unlimited battery power …for nearly no cost?

    Enough to live off-grid and power all of your electronics and devices? Sounds too good to be true, right? I definitely thought so, but there actually is a way to do this, and this awesome video explains how. You can literally re-use your batteries over and over and literally never need to buy them again. Battery reconditioning is incredibly cool and could become a cornerstone of your self-reliance plan.

    Never buy another battery again

    Whether you simply want to save money, completely get off the grid, or prepare your homestead for the worst, this technique is incredibly valuable to know. Make sure you check this new video out right now because it won’t be up much longer:

    >> Click Here To Learn About This Dead Simple Battery Trick <<

  • How to Reduce Electricity Use

    How to Reduce Electricity Use

    Are you using too much energy in your house? The answer for most people is going to be yes. Often, people are wasting energy without even realizing it. If you are a homesteader, and you have electricity through the grid – or through solar power for that matter – you have to take steps to reduce the amount of electricity you use to make your home more efficient. It will also help to reduce the cost. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save on your electricity and these simple tips will help you get started.

    One of the first things you will want to do is unplug. Many people keep most of their appliances and electronics plugged-in throughout the day, even when they are not using them. You might not realize it, but even when the item is in not on, it is still drawing electricity. That is wasted electricity because it isn’t doing anything for you. By simply unplugging them when you are not using them, you can save a substantial amount of energy each month.

    Another way to lower your electric bill is to upgrade the appliances you have. If you have old appliances, they are not likely energy efficient. This means they are sucking away far more electricity than a newer model will. If the appliance is on its last legs anyway, do yourself a favor and upgrade.

    You probably heard your parents say it when you were a kid, and now it’s your turn. If you leave a room, turn off the lights. Many people leave the lights on throughout their house, even when they are unoccupied. It might seem like a small thing, but over time, you will be wasting a substantial amount of electricity.

    As you can see, the tips for saving energy and electricity are really quite simple. You can put them to use today.

    If you liked this, you might also enjoy…

    Learn to Heal and Treat Illnesses Naturally…

    An Ancient Secret to Slimmer Waists…

    Learn to be a Master Carpenter at Home...