For many people, the idea of living solely on solar energy is an exciting prospect. The truth is that there are plenty of homes in America that produce more than enough electricity through their own solar panels to power everything they need.
Solar water heating is worth it if you have the space and budget for a solar collector installation. The return on investment can be anywhere from five to eight years, depending upon your location in relation with sunlight hours per year (more sun equals faster ROI).
Dry camping is a type of tent camping where you don’t have a designated campsite. Campers are not required to hold any permits, and they can camp anywhere that’s legal.
Lithium batteries are rechargeable and can be used over a long period of time. They’re also lightweight, which is great for all your portable devices. Lithium has the highest energy density out there when it comes to battery power so they’re perfect in this regard too – you’ll get more juice per weight.
A Solar Electric Photovoltaic (PV) System converts sunlight into electricity. It consists of an array of solar panels, mounting structure, one or more inverters for converting AC to DC and monitoring equipment. The system can be connected to the utility grid (grid-tie) or independent (off-grid), in which case batteries are used.
Backpacking is the best way to travel because it’s a great opportunity for you and your friends or family members to explore new places, meet locals in their own environment and have an authentic experience.
Wind turbines are worth the money if your location has 80% uninterrupted wind that blows at a speed of more than 5 meters a second. Wind turbines combined with solar are worth the investment, as often the sun shines when the wind doesn’t blow, and vice versa.
Tiny houses are small homes that can be built from scratch or bought as a prefabricated kit. They range in size from 120 sq ft to 400 square feet and are becoming more popular across the United States with people tired of living in cramped apartment buildings.
Boondocking is a term that was coined by RVers and campers. It stands for “backcountry camping”, or living in a camper van or RV in the nature without mains electricity or any utilities.
Solar panels are an excellent way to save money and energy. But there are a lot of questions that people have about them, such as “why are solar panels rectangular?” or “why do solar panels need batteries?”.