How to live off of solar power alone

Now that the federal government has renewed rebates of up to thirty percent for home solar energy systems many people are considering the idea of adding them to their homes. Currently the federal rebate for solar photovoltaic or PV systems, that provide some or all of a home’s electricity, is thirty percent. This is in the form of a tax credit which comes off the top of any federal taxes you owe. Solar hot water heaters, which are less expensive that solar electricity panels, also qualify for a thirty percent rebate. In addition to these very generous federal rebates there are city and state rebates in many parts of the country. Austin Texas, for example, offers a large rebate, which when combined with the federal rebate, brings the cost of a rooftop PV solar panel system down to about $5000. A solar hot water heater in Austin Texas will cost you only about $3000 out of pocked and pay you back in as few as five years. Living On Solar Alone, Is It Possible? It is possible in many areas of the United States, such as the West and South, to live completely off of solar power from a typical 3 Kilowatt system combined with a solar hot water heater. Homes that have eliminated their electricity bill typically have Energy Star qualified appliances, well sealed windows and doors, extra insulation in the attic and walls, and propane or natural gas stoves and dryers. In addition to Energy Star qualified appliances you will want to replace all the bulbs, including recessed fixtures, with compact fluorescent bulbs. CF bulbs now come in all shapes and sizes for every light fixture you could imagine. To live completely off of solar power you will also want to cool your home without air conditioning for much of the warm months. This can be done in many climates with a whole house fan, which is usually located in the attic and is used to pull in cool night and evening air from outside and up through the attic, creating a cooling effect that rivals air conditioning. Swamp coolers, which use evaporative cooling can be used where the average humidity is low. Getting Rid Of Vampire Loads. Vampire Loads or Phantom Loads are things in your home that continue to draw power from the grid even when off. TV’s, stereos, cable boxes, chargers and other appliances often draw several watts when in the off position. You can eliminate phantom loads by finding them with a power monitor such as the Kill a Watt and placing them on a power strip, which has an off button. Phantom loads may account for as much as seventy percent of energy use by electronics in this country, according to the Department of Energy. Lifestyle Changes For Living Totally Off Of Solar Power You will have to think of energy as something that is not limitless in order to live totally off of solar power. You must change daily habits and learn how to turn off all lights and appliances when not in use. Use wall timers to turn certain lights on just for the few minutes that you need them, such as lights in utility closets and halls. Keep your home cool by opening windows in the evening, provided it is safe to do so where you live. Once you learn where most of the energy in your home is going you can control how much you use and get by on what your solar panels make alone.