Living Grid free and loving it

FreeinChrist · Aug 21, 2015

My husband and I are living out in the country in a grid-free home. Our power is solar, with a propane back up generator. We collect and treat rainwater in a cistern under the house. And we have a septic system for waste.

What this means is on hot days, over 90 degrees, we can run the air-conditioner and and our monthly bill is $0.

Is anyone else grid-free?

zippy2 · Aug 21, 2015

I wish. You are to be applauded.

Truthfrees · Aug 21, 2015

Where's the best place to buy the products necessary?

Can you give the basics of what's needed to do what you've done?

How would someone start?

I imagine not all products are created equal?

Or that contractors with installation and servicing knowledge are easy to find.

Anyone know of geothermal heating/cooling products and installation?

FreeinChrist · Aug 21, 2015

I know nothing about geothermal stuff. We do not need to heat.

As for the solar, there is a dealer in our area that we relied on.

SavedByGrace3 · Aug 22, 2015

That is a dream... currently we are looking at solar. We live in the deep south so the heat is sometimes unbearable. Heat index will hit over 100 for a week at a time. We have considered a partially underground home and take advantage of an underground heating/cooling system. Building codes around here are a pain. But there are many possibilities. If and when we go that route, I may be picking your brain. It is one thing to read a book on it, and quite another to actually do it.

FreeinChrist · Aug 22, 2015

Our builder did the work on it.

What we did was expensive but we saw it as part of buiding the house and worth it in the long run (and short run where I am).

We have a 4 kW system - 16 solar panels and 16 batteries, and the propane generator as a back up. Appliances include washer/dryer, 2 room air conditioners, refrigerator, and we have ceiling fans, water pump. There there is the use of small appliances and computers. Our stove and water heater are gas powered. We usually have plenty of power. Even on cloudy days, the system will charge if there is any light at all.

Now if you are going to have a swimming pool and 2 dishwashers, more air conditioners or central air, heating, and big frig with a separate freezer and electric coolers on the patio - you will need more. At least 13 kW.

So the cost - the panels were not bad. Can't remember the specifics with that. The batteries are expensive - about $900 each (last 15 - 25 years depending on brand). So it is a cost. But if you want to live where the grid does not even go, it is the best choice. As I said, I run the AC, and there is no monthly bill.

brinny · Aug 22, 2015

FreeinChrist said:
Our builder did the work on it.

What we did was expensive but we saw it as part of buiding the house and worth it in the long run (and short run where I am).

We have a 4 kW system - 16 solar panels and 16 batteries, and the propane generator as a back up. Appliances include washer/dryer, 2 room air conditioners, refrigerator, and we have ceiling fans, water pump. There there is the use of small appliances and computers. Our stove and water heater are gas powered. We usually have plenty of power. Even on cloudy days, the system will charge if there is any light at all.

Now if you are going to have a swimming pool and 2 dishwashers, more air conditioners or central air, heating, and big frig with a separate freezer and electric coolers on the patio - you will need more. At least 13 kW.

So the cost - the panels were not bad. Can't remember the specifics with that. The batteries are expensive - about $900 each (last 15 - 25 years depending on brand). So it is a cost. But if you want to live where the grid does not even go, it is the best choice. As I said, I run the AC, and there is no monthly bill.

That is AWESOME!

What does it mean to live where the grid does not even go?

seashale76 · Aug 22, 2015

How do you have Internet access if you're grid free?

FreeinChrist · Aug 22, 2015

brinny said:
That is AWESOME!

What does it mean to live where the grid does not even go?

There is no service to where we live. No sewage, no water, no electric. We would have to pay for the utility companies to wire it up or put in the pipes from where they end.
So we had to be independent

seashale76 said:
How do you have Internet access if you're grid free?

We have solar with back up so we have a WiMax system with line of sight to a tower on a big hill that the internet company has a receiver. It works well.

There is something about WiMAX here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX

brinny · Aug 23, 2015

FreeinChrist said:
There is no service to where we live. No sewage, no water, no electric. We would have to pay for the utility companies to wire it up or put in the pipes from where they end.
So we had to be independent

That's amaaaazing. It's quite an investment, but worth it, it sounds like. AND inspiring.

We have solar with back up so we have a WiMax system with line of sight to a tower on a big hill that the internet company has a receiver. It works well.

There is something about WiMAX here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX

seayhere · Aug 23, 2015

FreeinChrist said:
Our builder did the work on it.

What we did was expensive but we saw it as part of buiding the house and worth it in the long run (and short run where I am).

We have a 4 kW system - 16 solar panels and 16 batteries, and the propane generator as a back up. Appliances include washer/dryer, 2 room air conditioners, refrigerator, and we have ceiling fans, water pump. There there is the use of small appliances and computers. Our stove and water heater are gas powered. We usually have plenty of power. Even on cloudy days, the system will charge if there is any light at all.

Now if you are going to have a swimming pool and 2 dishwashers, more air conditioners or central air, heating, and big frig with a separate freezer and electric coolers on the patio - you will need more. At least 13 kW.

So the cost - the panels were not bad. Can't remember the specifics with that. The batteries are expensive - about $900 each (last 15 - 25 years depending on brand). So it is a cost. But if you want to live where the grid does not even go, it is the best choice. As I said, I run the AC, and there is no monthly bill.

I think what you are doing is way cool. No electric bill would be great. Ok, here's my question. My husband and I were thinking of it, and he's a builder. His concern is that when you have to replace the roof, all those panels have to be removed to replace the roof. He doesn't know if they can be re-installed or if you have to pay for the panels again? Do you know. Also, how many sq. feet is your house?

SavedByGrace3 · Aug 23, 2015

Grid free is hard core dude. When and if it happens, the grid free folks will barely notice.
"Its not a thang..."

Tallguy88 · Aug 23, 2015

I would like to get solar panels if nothing else

FreeinChrist · Aug 23, 2015

seayhere said:
I think what you are doing is way cool. No electric bill would be great. Ok, here's my question. My husband and I were thinking of it, and he's a builder. His concern is that when you have to replace the roof, all those panels have to be removed to replace the roof. He doesn't know if they can be re-installed or if you have to pay for the panels again? Do you know. Also, how many sq. feet is your house?

The panels would be fine and could be reinstalled depending on why you need to fix your roof. If it is to reshingle because the shingles are old, then yes. If it is because of severe wind damage or a big tree limb hitting it and also damaging the panels, then no. The panels are the least expensive part of it. The batteries are the things that cost. You also have to have a room or space to put the batteries where they are out of weather.

FreeinChrist · Aug 23, 2015

Some have solar panels and the electric company credits the consumer then for the power put into the grid.

We had solar water heating for years in our other house.

SavedByGrace3 · Aug 23, 2015

Tallguy88 said:
I would like to get solar panels if nothing else

They are dropping in price. Be careful about the Chinese brands. By American if you can.

SavedByGrace3 · Aug 23, 2015

mourningdove~ · Aug 23, 2015

FreeinChrist said:
My husband and I are living out in the country in a grid-free home. Our power is solar, with a propane back up generator. We collect and treat rainwater in a cistern under the house. And we have a septic system for waste.

What this means is on hot days, over 90 degrees, we can run the air-conditioner and and our monthly bill is $0.

Is anyone else grid-free?

'Grid free' ... that's quite an accomplishment! Congratulations!

Truthfrees · Aug 24, 2015

I have a book that says in California they're building solar umbrellas.

They use a solar array to shade the sunny side of the house, cutting the cooling needs.

I know a guy that has black tube solar water heating.

Is that the kind you had in your other house?

FreeinChrist · Aug 24, 2015

Our solar water heating at our other house used solar panels. There are many companies in the US that will do solar water heating. In Arizona we got a nice tax break for doing it. It helped the bills.

Living Grid free and loving it

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