Considering Living Off The Grid? Three Alternative Energy Sources To Consider

Every month, you cringe when you receive your utility bills. The cost of powering your home is astronomical and you can't stand the thought of having to shell out thousands of dollars to energy suppliers.

If this describes you, then going of the power grid might be something that would work for you. In short, living off the power grid means that you will be generating your own power, which means that you won't have to rely on an electric company or an oil company to power your home and you won't have any more utility bills! Plus, you'll be doing your part to protect the environment. What could be better?

But, before you dive into going off the grid, first you should know what it entails. The most crucial aspect of living off the grid is the methods you will employ to create energy. Believe it or not, there are actually a variety of methods. Here's a look at three of the most commonly used off the grid energy resources.

Solar Panels

Perhaps the most common method of creating renewable energy is via solar panels from a company like AAA Solar Source. These panels absorb energy from the sun and convert that energy into electricity. The main and most important element of these panels is solar cells, which are what actually convert the energy from the sun into electricity for your home.

In order for solar panels to be an effective source of alternative energy for your home, you need to live in the right environment. There should be plenty of sunshine and your home should receive ample exposure to that sunshine. For a home in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains a majority of the time, solar energy is not the most efficient alternative energy source. However, a home in the desert of New Mexico, where there is plenty of sunshine year-round, would receive ample energy from solar panels.

Wind Power

Another alternative energy option is wind power. Turbines are used to harness the power of the wind in order to create electricity. They way turbines work is pretty simple: The wind turns the blades, which are connected to a rotor. The rotor is connected to a generator and electricity is made.

The average wind speed in your area is crucial in determining how much energy you will garner from this type of energy. Your local weather service can help you figure out whether or not wind will be an efficient source of energy for your home.

Microhydro Power

A third option to consider for creating alternative energy is microhydro power. With this type of energy, running water is used to generate electricity. The running water flows from a higher location to a lower location, which turns a turbine at the end of the system, creating energy.

Though this is probably the least-known form of alternative energy out of the three given options, it is actually the most effective. Since water flows constantly, it has the ability to produce up to 100 times more energy than other sources of alternative energy.

Whether you choose one or a combination of these three alternative energy sources, living off the power grid is a very real and exciting possibility.