We have not paid a utility bill since Year 2000. This is not to say that we don't have heat and electricity. The land that we bought on Janvrin's Island is beautiful, but it was a long way from the grid. Our house is approximately 1 kilometer from the nearest power line which would mean a large payment (around $40-$50,000), to have the electricity brought back to us. The cost to bring in power set the boundary for our budget to look into producing our own electricity, and we did it for much less, and without the monthly bill. We started small...just a couple solar pv, (electric), panels, a charge controller and a battery bank. This was great as it allowed for lights, computer and entertainment, and recharging of tools. We soon decided that it would be nice to have a little more power to add a chest freezer, more lights, high-speed internet, etc., so we purchased a small wind turbine, a few more panels, and an inverter. This brought our system up to about 1 kilowatt per hour peak. On a good sunny and windy day we could produce and store 5+ kilowatt hours of electricity, and with full batteries could have 4-5 days of backup power. All for a lot less than bringing back the power lines.
We now have a relatively normal life with many of the "modern" conveniences, no fear of blackouts, complete freedom from the grid, and a sense of self-reliance.
It was a bit of a learning process, and it was difficult to source many of the products and information. This is why we have decided to start our company. We would like to help others become self-reliant. The technology is here now and the economics make sense in many situations, not to mention the many benefits to the environment.
The solar and wind resource of this area is for the most part untapped. The wind resource is world-class, easy to harness, and cost-effective. The only problem is that most people don't realize that it is available to them.
Our dream of living on the coast and being self-sufficient has been realized with the help of the wind and sun.
Home | About Us | Contact Us
