Optimizing Solar Panels
It happens every year--actually twice every year. The track of the sun through the sky changes drastically and rapidly. In the spring, the sun is rising higher in the sky each day, and that means we can do our bi-annual adjustment of the solar panels to get the maximum amount of power possible. During the…
Off Grid Air Conditioning
Having grown up in the south, I have a unique appreciation for air conditioning that can only come from experience. After working outdoors all day every summer in the humid heat, you learn to appreciate that cool air when trying to sleep at night. Maybe that’s why I now live in a climate where we…
How To Prepare Your Home To Go Off Grid
You may be wondering how feasible it is for a home that is currently hooked up to the power lines to go off the grid. In many ways, it’s probably easier than you think. However, there are a few items we should look at more closely. In this article, I’ll walk you through the basics…
Choosing the Right Backup Generator
Okay...I'll admit it. I'm all about energy independence, and fuel powered generators are totally dependent on some source of fuel. However, even an energy independent homesteader should have a good backup generator on hand, and then use it as little as possible. How so? Generators and Energy Independence? It's a principle called redundancy. Another way…