Homesteader Depot

Tag: solar 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.

    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.

  • Solar Energy Options for Homesteaders

    Solar Energy Options for Homesteaders

    You want to live off the grid, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need electrical power to operate your lights and appliances.

    You can use a generator, but generators require gasoline. A generator is a good backup solution for people who are on the grid when they lose power.

    However, if you want to be independent, the best way to do it is to invest in solar energy options for your home and property. It used to be that solar panels were prohibitively expensive. That’s no longer the case.

    In this post, we’ll detail some of the solar energy options for homesteaders. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have the information you need to make the switch to solar power.

    On Grid vs. Off Grid

    The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to live off the grid or on the grid. For some homesteaders, making a switch to solar power is best done incrementally.

    In other words, you might start with a few solar panels and switch to solar for heating your water. Then, over time, you may add additional panels to help you ease into off-grid living.

    If your goal is to get off the grid as soon as possible, you’ll need to evaluate your energy needs and determine how much power you need to collect and store to keep things running the way you want them to.

    Calculating Your Power Needs

    The next step is to determine your power needs. There are many easy online calculators that you can use. Here’s what you’ll need to make the calculation:

    • The number of Kilowatt-Hours (kWh) you use per month
    • The percentage of your energy use you want to offset with solar power
    • The state you live in (determines the average days of sun where you live)

    The calculator uses these three things to calculate a minimum and maximum size for your new solar power system.

    [Must See] Solar Panels Alternative — Portable Solar Energy System: Learn More Here>>>

    Solar Power Options

    Regardless of your power needs, you need a system to collect solar energy, convert it to the proper form, and store it so you can use it to power your home.

    If your goal is to be only partially dependent on the grid, then you have a few options to choose from. For example, you might:

    1. Invest in a solar water heater. You’ll need to place it in an area that gets as much direct sunlight as possible, but you won’t need to add solar panels to your home.
    2. If you have a swimming pool, get a solar pool heater. The same principle applies – you’ll need to place it in direct sunlight for the best results.
    3. You can buy and install just a few solar panels, store the energy in batteries, and use it as needed.

      Related Article:       “4 Excellent Ways to Generate Your Own Electricity” 

    The other option, of course, is to make the switch and move off the grid. In that case, you’ll need to purchase:

    1. Photovoltaic (PV) panels to collect sufficient power for your needs
    2. A combiner box where you’ll plug in the panels
    3. A charge controller to prevent your panels from storing too much energy
    4. Solar batteries to store excess energy
    5. A DC to AC inverter to make the power you collect usable

    Of course, the expense of buying these things can add up. If you’re an experienced electrician (or you know one who’s willing to work for cheap) then you don’t have to buy a combiner box – you can make one. Keep in mind that it’s important to get the wiring right and to protect your system so it doesn’t fail.

    Making the Switch to Solar

    Switching to solar power can help you save money in the long term. We like it because it gives us a reliable source of power that we can count on even if the grid fails or is compromised.

    Have you made the switch to solar power? Tell us in the comments!