Homesteader Depot

Tag: wind

  • 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 <<

  • 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!