Alternative Energy - how do you get by?

[Tanqwa]

With Eskom's 30% inc every year to make up for their shortfalls we are forced to look at alt methods. We only now are getting reasonable subsidy's on solar systems but only on the expensive one's. The majority of of people here cant even afford the most basic systems, so who are really to benefit from it?

Am busy with setting up to do PM wind generators, thanx to the Dans from Otherpower and Hugh Piggot from Scoriagwind, Gary from Builtitsolar and Andrew from Strawbale.com. :thumbsup:

What have you done and what works for you to be self reliant?

 

[Egon]

I can recall just a few years ago where all the farmers in our neighbourhood lived "Off the Grid" without any real problems.

 

[catfishdaddyengineering]

I have thrown a few ideas around lately for when we build our house next year. Looking at Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Solar Water Heating, and once I build my pond, a hydro micro-turbine. All do-it-yourself. Maybe start out with a diesel backup generator, one of those ebay chinese knockoffs, run off homebrew biodiesel.

 

[tanglefoot]

I have a small Skystream wind turbine that provides about a third of our power needs per month. If I had it to do over, I would look into the vertical axis type. Hopefully, it would make less noise than the Skystream.

 

[crusty 1]

I can recall just a few years ago where all the farmers in our neighbourhood lived "Off the Grid" without any real problems.

A few years Egon?:laughingave

 

[wjmst]

A few years Egon?:laughingave

We've got a lot of Amish people around here that live "off the grid" but still have access to and use the things that we use.

 

[firefighter9208]

You talking about the Amish that crank their generator to power the credit card machine to swipe your debit card when you buy something from them?