Energy Off the Grid

Energy Off the Grid

Well, there is a rush to go green, to be green and yet we all get stopped at the starting post trying to find ‘green’ contractors! While different states and the different levels of government are coming up with green grant incentives, we are still hunting around for information on how to choose a solar contractor.

With solar power being such a new idea, many states have not yet got around to regulating the specifics for a ’solar’ contractor. However, there is a renewable energy incentive program for every state and this would be a good place to start. There is also a web site for solar energy trade groups, which lists contractors.

Licensed solar contractors in your area will have been educated and trained in installing PV panels. This training will have been followed by field experience, so if you spot some solar paneling installed in your neighborhood, ask who did the work.

Solar contractors need to know more about their job than just installing the panels on the roof tops. He or she should be able to advise you on the size of panel that will work for your home as well as how it works. Hopefully you will know a little about solar energy before you go into it.

You will also need to negotiate some help if you are filling in any forms for grants etc. These must be discussed with the contractor prior to starting an order to make sure that everything will be up to the specification standards required for the grant. The passing of the inspection will be completed before final payment is made to the contractor.

Your contractor will advise you on an inverter which will change the direct current (DC) power from your panels into the alternating current of AC electricity. AC electricity will power your appliances etc and it is compatible with the grid electricity that comes into your home.

You will also need to buy batteries which will store the excess power from sunny days and allow you to use it as electricity on cloudy days. Your contractor will know about metering, grid connections, excess power and if and how you can pump juice back into the grid.

It may be difficult to find a contractor who has years of experience, so be sure to employ one who is knowledgeable, who can show you previous work, and who’s references you can check.

Finally, as with most home building jobs, get three quotes – for exactly the same solar system – from different contractors and compare prices.

Watch this video about license roofing contractor

www.sunflowergc.com is your answer to all your Remodeling, Renovation and construction needs. We do new custom home, extension, roofing, HVACs, alarm, security and CCtv, Bathroom, kitchen, painting, stucco, flooring, electric and plumbing. we are insured, license and bonded. we will be happy to serve you 866-611-6466 Joe Please help to answer the question about license roofing contractordoes texas require a roofing contractor to have a license.?
About Author

Mark Hostetler -
About the Author:

WelcomeHomeNevada.com provides a professional guide to Las Vegas Nevada Real Estate. For excellent agent services in the Las Vegas area, contact Mark Hostetler, your Las Vegas Real Estate agent.




Related Energy Off the Grid:
September 9th, 2010 | by roofing contractor |

8 Responses to “Energy Off the Grid”

  1. By satin_rust on Sep 9, 2010

    Easy, the price.

    Most people don't understand that the electrical grid not only acts as the way to get the electricity to your house but also as a big storage facility for all that energy. The best description of the electrical grid I can give you is a balloon full of holes. Each hole is an appliance using electricity and the generating stations have to provide electricity at exactly the same rate as it is leaking out in order to keep the balloon at exactly the same size (constant voltage and frequency).

    To make an home based generating system effective you must either connect to the grid and buy/sell the power you consume/produce through a "smart meter". Or else you have to install and maintain a large bank of batteries to store the energy in your home (unless you have an esoteric system that produces H2 or some other fuel) and since batteries are direct current (DC) and appliances run on alternating current (AC) you also need an invertor to turn DC into AC.

    So it isn't as simple as putting solar cells or windmills on your roof. You also need a way to store that energy for those times when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow. All that extra equipment you need to be independent of the grid is very expensive.

  2. By Grady on Sep 9, 2010

    It looks like it would boil down to the one you can afford.

  3. By skahhh on Sep 9, 2010

    Very low. I do not think anybody will notice the difference. Drive safely ./;-))

    Gas engines are very inefficient, maybe 5 % of the energy is converted into actual drive. Electric motors are very efficient, about 70% for DC motors, so, figure it out yourself.

  4. By Welcome to the real world! on Sep 10, 2010

    If you are using solar power as your only source of power then you would be able to use your existing panel. If you wish to do both then it depends on the equipment you have. Some systems are "smart systems" and can switch your power back and forth between solar and utility company power depending on your demand and what your solar system has available.

    This type of setup would require an electrician to re-route your main feeds through a transfer switch type of unit. Again depending on the system you purchase: this may come with or built into their inverter system.

    Unless you are building a pretty big system I would recommend setting up a dual system (solar and utility co.)

    And besides if you are not using your solar power (you don't need the excess) you can sell your power back to the electric company, It will be nice to get a check from them for a change :)

  5. By Welcome to the real world! on Sep 10, 2010

    You don't need to make a separate electrical pane or new outlets.

    Your solar energy generated is stored and fed through to your exisiting electrical panel. This type of system is becoming more and more popular. I would suggest that you only buy this system if you are planning to stay in the property for some years to come – the cost of installation, compared to the saving from the energy company would take some time to justify… this is of course if you are doing it to save on your monthly energy bill. Well worth doing though and also you are doing your bit for the enviroment. Gook luck

  6. By Anonymous on Sep 10, 2010

    Yes, getting off the grid is great considering the thousands you can save yearly on energy costs and with this recession, you can spend the money saved on more important things. You can make quality solar panels and wind generators yourself for well under $200 each. Go for it! I did. I came across this website, http://www.homemadeenergy.org/index_tr.php?hop=webpros7, and was able to get easy step-by-step instructions on how to build my own solar and wind power system for under $200! Got all the supplies from the hardware store and had fun building them too. Now I'm off the grid and saving big time! Big thanks to that website.

  7. By ibu guru on Sep 10, 2010

    I own a windmill it produces 2-3 times the electricity that I need and so the rest is sold back to the power company. I will not go off grid because to me that is a waste of energy; power is lost when it needs to be "pushed" into batteries to be stored and when the batteries are fully charged the turbine would need to be shut down. So by not using batteries and staying on the grid I am supplying clean energy to 1 or 2 of my neighbors. So the way I see it I am twice as green as people who live off the grid.

  8. By Myx is back on Sep 10, 2010

    I think that was a big story a while back. Bush has renewable, Gore doesn't. Follow the money and you'll realize why some people care.

    Some, though, actually care about the environment. Gore just isn't really one of them.

Post a Comment