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Tag: Off-the-grid
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Teenager Builds Off Grid Tiny House (80% Recycled Material)
DIY Hand Made Totally Off Grid Tiny Home Complete with Solar and Garden
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Tiny house for under $5000
Tiny house build from Aug. 2012 to Aug 2013, I did this all by myself, while working part-time. This tiny house only cost me $5000, I reused lots of things and found free stuff from craigslist. We are a family of 4, soon to be 5 and are living in a tiny house with kids. Living in a tiny house has given us financial freedom, and the ability to enjoy our kids more. We have reduced our cost of living greatly, reduced our energy consumption and uncluttered our lives! -

Buy A Tiny House for $100 Down – Tiny Homes, Mortgage Free, Self Sufficient, Living Off The Grid!
Here is an easy way to stop paying rent or own a home that doesnt waste space or have a big impact on the environment. MORTGAGE FREE AND DEBT FREE. Getting off the grid with TINY HOMES! Live closer to nature by spending your time outside rather than inside. The tiny home movement is becoming a smarter way to live and start to become self sufficient. Look for our new tiny home in future videos. Thanks for watching -

Unbelievable House Truck Transforms Into Fantasy Castle
This is a house truck that you have to see to believe. Completely road legal, this off-the-grid house truck folds out and transforms into a fantasy castle. This is one Tiny House tour you don’t want to miss!For more information on this truck: http://www.livingbiginatinyhouse.com/transforming-castle-truck/
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‘Living Big in a Tiny House’ © 2014 Zyia Pictures Ltd
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7 charming off-grid homes for a rent-free life
Want to make rent and utility bills a thing of the past? We’ve rounded up seven off-grid homes that could be the answer to making your dreams a reality. Stylish and self-sufficient, these eco-friendly dwellings promise freedom from the grid. Many are even set atop wheels to let you move with your home to almost anywhere you desire. Keep reading to see seven charming homes that offer homeowners the chance to live off the grid and rent-free.

Powered by solar energy and made from recycled materials, the WOHNWAGON is a beautiful mobile and modern home with a housing footprint so small it fits within the size of a standard parking lot. This larch-clad caravan was designed for homeowners who wish to travel the world and enjoy comfortable off-grid living thanks to energy-efficient features including a green roof, triple-glazed windows, graywater recycling, solar panels, highly efficient insulation and more. Developed for mass production, the WOHNWAGON starts at 40,000 Euros and can be individually customized.

For those who want a little off-grid place of their own with more of a futuristic edge, look no farther than the EcoCapsule. Now available for pre-orders, the tiny egg-shaped home that went viral in 2015 has been displayed around the world wowing visitors with its ability to produce all of its energy onsite with rooftop solar panels and a low-noise wind turbine that feed into a 10kWh battery. Developed by Nice Architects, the mobile home can be moved or dropped in place with a crane or helicopter, giving owners the freedom to live almost anywhere they please.

South Africa-based architect Clara da Cruz Almeida collaborated with local design firm Dokter+Misses to create POD-Idladla, an adorable flat-pack home with off-grid capabilities. Targeted at young adults, the tiny solar-powered was conceived as a customizable eco-friendly home at an affordable price. The modular design can also be expanded upon with additional pods to make multi-unit configurations that house up to 12 people.

If homes inspired by fantasy and fairytale are more your style, you’ll love Moon Dragon. Tiny house builder Abel Zimmerman Zyl of Zyl Vardos designed and built this tiny timber off-grid home that looks like it’d be right at home in Middle-Earth. Outfitted with a solar kit for off-grid living, the beautifully detailed mobile home boasts masterful craftsmanship as well as impressive an impressive suite of features, from a five-burner Range cooker with two ovens to a loft bedroom large enough for a queen-sized bed.

Lovers of travel and modern, minimalist house designs will feel right at home in KODA, a tiny prefabricated home created by Estonian design collective Kodasema. Designed with off-grid capabilities, KODA can be assembled on a variety of surfaces without the need for foundations or disassembled and prepped for relocation in as little as four hours. Fronted with large quadruple-glazed windows, the light-filled modular house can also be expanded with multiple units.

Designed as an escape from city life, the Ark Shelter was created to reconnect people with nature. The self-sufficient modular cabin is prefabricated from durable timber and placed on site atop raised, mobile foundations. Wind turbines, solar power, and rainwater collection allow the home to go off-grid.

Dutch design agency Walden Studio teamed up with carpenter Dimka Wentzel to design a tiny home that’s big on luxury and freedom. Equipped with all the systems needed for off-grid living, the contemporary mobile home is filled with natural light and natural materials like the cork floors and birch plywood paneling. The 17-square-meter home also contains plenty of multifunctional furniture to maximize its small footprint.
http://inhabitat.com/7-charming-off-grid-homes-for-a-rent-free-life/
On – 18 Feb, 2017 By Lucy Wang
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The 3 Best Batteries For An Off-Grid Energy System
It’s the concern that any individual making use of alternative energy certainly asks at some time …
Just what are the most effective batteries for an off-grid power system?
As a result of the dropping costs of renewable resource systems, an increasing number of individuals are wanting to make use of alternate power sources as a method to:
Conserve loan
End up being much more power independent
And damage their dependence on the large energy firms
Solar cell Bank With Refurbished BatteriesHowever, setting up a renewable energy system, most of the times, needs you making a significant initial investment that you won’t get back for numerous years.Among the biggest costs associated with alternative energy systems is the batteries in the battery financial institution.
So choosing the appropriate batteries for your off-grid system is crucial (and also maintaining the batteries alive as long as feasible is likewise critically crucial)!
You Don’t Need to Get New Overpriced Batteries
Prior to we tell you exactly what 3 batteries we recommend for your different energy system’s battery bank …It is essential to first note that you do not have to acquire the 3 batteries we advise brand-new.
Instead, you could make use of the EZ Battery Refurbishing program to:
Get old or used batteries absolutely free (or economical).
Refurbish them back to “like-new” condition.
After that utilize those replaced (like-new) batteries in your alternate power system’s battery bank INSTEAD of purchasing new costly batteries.
Doing this will save you a significant quantity of loan when constructing a battery bank and also it aids make alternative power obtainable to those with a tighter budget!But that still leaves the inquiries …
What are the very best batteries to make use of in your solar power, wind power, or other different power system?
In this post we’ll attempt to respond to that concern in a really basic and also straightforward manner.Here’s exactly what we’ll discuss:.
Lead Acid-Batteries VS. Other Battery Technologies in a battery financial institution.
Deep Cycle vs. Shallow Cycle Batteries in a battery bank.
Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries (FLA) VS Secured Lead-Acid Batteries (SHANTY TOWN) in a battery bank.
And also finally, which 3 Batteries we recommend for your residential off-grid power system (based on the criteria we go over in this article).Lead Acid-Batteries vs. Various other Battery Technologies.
A number of the batteries that are made use of in renewable energy systems were originally developed for other purposes. The most popular instance of this is the lead acid battery which has dominated the industry for a very long time.Deep cycle lead-acid batteries have actually verified to be one of the very best (as well as most economical) battery types for alternate power system battery banks for these reasons:.
They have the ability to endure frequent discharging,.
They’re less costly compared to other kinds of batteries,.
They have much more tough resilience,.
They supply a lot more regular performance compared to various other batteries.
The fact that they are widely generated additionally means that they are fairly very easy to replace if a battery in your battery financial institution needs changing.It ought to be noted however, that since late, lithium ion batteries for household alternate power systems, like Tesla’s Powerwall, have actually been gaining ground– yet the first financial investment right into lithium ion batteries is still much more than the initial financial investment into lead-acid batteries.
The Powerwall may ultimately transform this however right now deep cycle lead-acid batteries are the least expensive as well as most sensible option for a home battery financial institution.
Deep Cycle vs. Shallow Cycle (Cars and truck) Batteries.
Back when the renewable energy sector was still getting vapor, people that wished to go totally off the grid would frequently need to improvisate and also use car batteries. However, auto batteries were never ever developed for this function as well as shouldn’t be continually drained pipes and also reenergized (which is exactly what they should carry out in a photovoltaic panel or wind generator system).Cars and truck batteries are intended to be utilized only for beginning as well as ignition. If you have a look inside one, you will see that they have a lot of thin plates.
These plates have a large overall surface that could promote a large number of chemical reactions. When you start your auto, these responses generate the abrupt ruptured of power that is required for ignition.
Deep cycle batteries on the various other hand, have thick lead plates that do not provide much area for chain reactions. Though they produce less current, they are made to do so for a lot longer time period.
Basically, automobile batteries are “shallow cycle” batteries that will promptly burn out when utilized as storage space for eco-friendly power.
Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries (FLA) VS Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries (SHANTY TOWN).
Prior to informing you what three batteries are best for different power system’s battery banks, it must be explained why flooded lead-acid batteries (FLA’s) are better for renewable energy compared to secured lead-acid batteries (SLA’s).One of the reasons that some individuals favour SLA’s is since they call for little upkeep. Unlike FLA’s that should be checked frequently for water level, SLA’s that are utilized correctly could be laid off.
Nonetheless, secured lead-acid batteries have 2 huge imperfections: they are delicate as well as break rapidly. So if you’re intending on using your solar panel or wind power system each day, this will ultimately position an issue.
So, right here are the groups of swamped lead-acid batteries that are best for an off-the-grid power system:.
The 3 Best Batteries.
So since we know we desire a lead acid battery, that’s flooded (FLA), and has deep cycle buildings … below are our 3 favorite batteries for an off-grid system’s battery bank:.1) Golf Cart Batteries.
Golf Cart BatteriesGolf cart batteries are one of the most widely produced batteries on this listing.They additionally function fantastic in an alternate power system application. So it’s not a surprise that they are among the most frequently made use of batteries in battery financial institutions for renewable resource systems.
Although the 5 to six year life span of golf cart batteries could seem reasonably brief, golf cart batteries greater than offset their shortage in this field by being very sturdy and also low-cost (you could also use these 7 ideas to extend the life of golf cart batteries).
Additionally, golf cart batteries can also be located virtually anywhere, making them a great option for battery financial institutions.
If you actually wish to build a premium quality yet economical battery bank among the best choices is to:.
Get old or “dead” batteries from golf courses or golf cart look for cost-free … or economical (just call them and also ask if you can have their old batteries probably lying around as well as littering their shop).
Then refurbish those batteries to like-new condition with the EZ Battery Reconditioning program.
Make use of those replaced batteries in your battery financial institution.2) Industrial or Forklift Batteries.
Forklift BatteriesA battery financial institution that uses one or more commercial batteries follows the other philosophy of a golf cart battery bank. As opposed to depending on numerous strings of smaller batteries, you make use of a few or even one battery to keep all of your power.Due to the fact that these batteries aren’t generally produced to typical dimensions, you will certainly need to have one made that is perfect for your requirements.
Or you could try to find an old industrial or forklift battery that’s the correct size for your system as well as use that.
Like golf cart batteries, there are often ways to get cost-free or cheap forklift batteries.
One means is to phone or go to industrial firms as well as see if they have old or “dead” forklift batteries. Deal to dispose of it for them or pay them a bit. If they concur, you can then replace the battery as well as utilize it rather purchasing a new expensive commercial battery.
However if you prefer to get a brand-new custom made battery instead, you ought to expect to pay quite a bit. However fortunately is these types of batteries are typically constructed to last 15 to Twenty Years.
Other thing to consider are:.
These bigger batteries will certainly be heavier and also more difficult to move.
There may be innovations in battery innovation that might make the battery obsolete in years to come.
However if you don’t mind making a significant financial investment upfront (anywhere from $2,000 to $10,00) as well as are alright with spending time maintaining your batteries in leading problem, then industrial batteries might be best for you.3) L16 Batteries.
L16 batteries for SolarIf you want batteries that have a little extra capability compared to golf cart batteries however do not wish to invest in industrial batteries, L16 batteries are a great middle ground.These swamped lead-acid batteries were originally made for supermarket flooring scrubbers.
The good thing with these batteries is that they last a bit longer than golf cart batteries– concerning six to eight years. However, they are frequently two times as heavy and also the 6-volt models can be twice as costly.
Final thought.
Different houses will certainly have various power need as well as will require battery banks that are sized accordingly.If you construct a battery financial institution utilizing any one of the 3 batteries mentioned above, you should have the ability to create a battery bank that is just right for your requirements.
There are some amazing new advancements in the battery globe for alternate power. These new items should be getting in the marketplace over the next pair years, like the lithium ion Tesla Powerwall. But currently, our three preferred batteries for domestic off-grid, alternative energy systems are golf cart batteries, L16 batteries, and industrial batteries.
And also if you’re interested in saving loan on your battery bank, you can use the EZ Battery Reconditioning program to find out how to:.
Aging or “dead” golf cart batteries, L16 batteries, or industrial batteries for free or economical.
Recondition them back to 100% of their working problem.
Use those “like-new” batteries instead of purchasing new pricey batteries to conserve a great deal of money!
Good luck with your battery bank! And Pleased Battery Reconditioning!https://siragsoft.com/the-3-best-batteries-for-an-off-grid-energy-system/
On – 05 Mar, 2017 By Mhmsirag
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Spectacular 20ft Off-The-Grid Tiny Shipping Container House
This off-the-grid shipping container house is one that you have to see to believe! Converted from a 20ft (6 meter) shipping container, this tiny house has everything that you need and is an exceptional example of functional, space-saving design.Read more about this house & others: http://goo.gl/EbOSM3
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A Snowboarder’s Unbelievable Tiny House
Check out Mike’s mobile Tiny Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbEupay_Ix8Watch More Seeker Stories!
Living in the Hidden Tunnels of Las Vegas: http://skr.cm/LVtunnels
Subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1Pro-snowboarder, Mike Basich, tours his self-built 225 square foot home in the middle of his 40 acre snow covered property near Truckee, CA – and shows how being close to nature drives his most creative decisions.
In Going Off Grid, Laura Ling examines how 180,000 Americans a year are choosing to live entirely disconnected from our modern internet-focused world in pursuit of a more sustainable, simple lifestyle.
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Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100537624873180533713/aboutExecutive Producer: Laura Ling
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Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol, Spencer Snider
Editor: Lee Mould -

Building an Off-Grid Tiny House? DIY Network Wants to Film You
Building an Off-Grid Tiny House? DIY Network Wants to Film You.

The DIY Network is looking for intrepid homebuilders who are in the planning stages of building an off-grid tiny house. The homes can run the gamut from traditional wood frame to straw bale, Earthship, yurt or even shipping container homes. The best thing? They’ll pay you for your time.
The DIY Network profiles a wide range of builders and homeowners.
The show, “Building Off the Grid”, finished its first season last year and is looking to cast for the show’s second season. The show has featured log hunting cabins in Alaska, a yurt in Montana, and a (larger) dream home near Yellowstone. The show will pay the homeowners $10,000 upon completion of the project.
“Building Off the Grid” will feature any type of home including log, mud or even yurts.
To be considered for the show, you must be ready to build and not already in the process of building. In addition, the home must be built on the land where it will ultimately exist. No off-site homes such as park models will be part of the show. The show will not only document the building of a home, but also off-grid capabilities including solar and wind power, septic, wells and the challenges and benefits of more remote living.
The entire building process will be documented for the show.
DIY Network’s other tiny house programming includes “Tiny House, Big Living” and the 2016 Tiny House Jamboree feature which showed a quick shot of Tiny House Blog founder, Kent Griswold. DIYNetwork.com offers videos, home improvement advice, step-by-step instructions, message boards, blogs and more. For more information and to be considered for “Building Off the Grid”, contact Megan Littlefield with Warms Springs Productions.
The show requires that all homes be built on-site.
http://tinyhouseblog.com/announcement/building-off-grid-tiny-house-diy-network-wants-film/
On – 13 Mar, 2017 By Christina Nellemann
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Manawatu homeowners off the grid after designing alternative solar energy system
Manawatu homeowners off the grid after designing alternative solar energy system
Murray Wilson/ Fairfax NZNorbert Reiser built his own alternative solar energy system and installed it to power his house.
A Feilding homeowner has not paid a power bill in six years after building his very own alternative solar energy system.
Norbert and Renate Reiser have been self-sufficient since 2010, with the $15,000 system converting sunlight into power and servicing all their household appliances.
They also grow vegetables, fruit, chickens and sheep for food.
Norbert ReiserNorbert Reiser’s home-built controller system.
The couple moved from Bavaria in Germany in 2001 and it took Norbert eight years to reconfigure his home’s power circuit.
READ MORE:
* Power prices set to increase in South Canterbury
* Nextgen Energy committed to giving back to community
* Electricity Authority: Brand makes no difference to power supply
* Peer-to-peer platform allows households to use each other’s solar powerThe poor summer and abundance of liquid sunshine hasn’t hindered the couple’s lifestyle where they carry on with showers and use appliances as per usual.
Murray Wilson/ Fairfax NZThe $15,000 system converts sunlight into power and servicing all household appliances.
“It was one of my main reasons to come to New Zealand. Not only is it a lovely place, but I could live my dream to be self-sufficient with my own electric energy,” he said.
“The rising power consumption from a rising Kiwi population creates a lot of stress to our hydro generators and water resources.
“The price of petrol and energy will never go down any more, so being self-sufficient helps. From my perspective, this is the same price, on investment, than you would get on the grid.”
The unit converts energy from sunlight into electricity, which is then stored in two batteries under the house.
Ad Feedback googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘storybody’); });In winter, a wetback heats the hot water cylinder so power can be preserved. Water is circulated through pipes and is heated using heat from the fire.
Norbert Reiser, an industrial electrician by trade, said the couple cooked on a gas stove, with only the fridge and freezer running fulltime.
In case of an emergency, they have a back-up generator. In six years they’ve only had to use it three times.
“It’s for if the weather is really bad – if we have maybe five, six days of constant rain,” he said.
Resier intended to build a garage where he could install more solar panels. The aim was to rely less on two storage batteries.
“I can prove that it is possible to build a self-sufficient house off the grid,” he said.
“I built my own controller circuits and got the main parts from the electronic shops, like inverters, power meters for inlet and outlet.
“It is like being the conductor of an orchestra – all these components then get alternated to my specific needs.”
Living off solar energy required people to be on their toes and thinking all the time with an understanding of how to use energy wisely, he said.
– Stuff
On – 28 Feb, 2017 By KILMISTER
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A Life Without Bills: Middle-Aged Couple Builds $30,000 Off-Grid Cob Home
A Life Without Bills: Middle-Aged Couple Builds $30,000 Off-Grid Cob Home
Written by: Tricia Drevets How-To Print This Article
If you are intrigued by off-the-grid living but are put off by the expense of building your own self-sufficient house, you need to take a look at a couple’s home in Bisbee, Ariz. They built their 600-square-foot abode for only about $30,000.
Today, they are debt free and pay no bills for water, heat, trash pick-up or electricity, and they are gaining expertise as gardeners. Their only regular bills are for Internet service and property taxes.
Karen and Bill, who were both in their 50s when they began building their home in the fall of 2010 and moved in about 18 months later, did all the work themselves. They were profiled on the YouTube “Life Inside A Box” channel.
“We are loving it every day,” Karen says. “It was a lot of hard work, but we chose to do it.”
A video tour begins outside the front door where Karen and Bob explain that the home is made of cob and straw. They have experimented with different forms of plaster over the straw to help defend the home against Arizona’s unrelenting sunshine.
The Pocket-Sized Backup Battery That Can Jump-Start Your Car!
“We used the basic principles of solar design,” says Bob, “with south- and southeast-facing windows.”
As they enter the home, Karen is quick to mention that everything in their home — except for the new energy-efficient refrigerator they purchased to fit in with their solar system — is either used, gifted or repurposed in some way.
“We made a real effort to recycle as much as we could,” says Karen, pointing out salvaged tin, wood, sinks and furniture pieces in the colorful, inviting home.
The open floor plan and the home’s high slanted roof offer a feeling of spaciousness. The bathroom is the only separate room, with the bedroom partitioned from the main room. A small curtained area is the storage room. “We are minimalists,” Bob says. “We don’t have a lot of stuff.”
Outside, the couple displays their solar system, which, along with their septic system, comprised the major costs for the home. Six main solar panels are nearby. Another four smaller ones power the well. The slanted roof off the back of the house captures rainwater to help irrigate garden beds, trees and plants.
Also on the property are two trailer homes that friends gave to the couple and that Bob later refurbished for their use. One is a warm weather guesthouse, and the other serves as Bob’s workshop. He built a structure to connect to that trailer, which he calls his “man cave” and which also serves as a cold weather guest room.
In the workshop, Bob says he tries out other alternative home concepts, such as crushed paper walls, that he did not get to incorporate into his home.
Raised garden beds, many of which have shades to protect plants from the Arizona sun, are also on the property. Bob and Karen admit they are still learning about gardening, but they are eager to add more homegrown food to their lifestyle.
When asked for advice for others who are considering building an off-the-grid home, Karen and Bob both are quick to stress simplicity.
“Don’t overreach,” Karen emphasizes. “Make a simple plan and then stick with the plan.”
Bob says that he and his wife were motivated by the idea of having a debt-free lifestyle. “We did everything out of money saved, and then we sold half of our 60 acres when we needed more money. … Many people aim too high, and end up getting divorced or having a house that is simply too big to maintain.”
Both Bob and Karen stress that you can always add on another room or another building later if you have the need.
“You will find that you can live in a small space very nicely,” Karen adds.
Would you want to build or live in a cob house? Share your thoughts in the section below:
Discover The Secret To Saving Thousands At The Grocery Store. Read More Here.
On – By Tricia Drevets
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Amazing off-grid Tiny Solar House travels across the U.S. | Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture
The tiny mobile home measures approximately 18 feet long and 9 feet wide and it was constructed with a cedar exterior using vertical tongue-and-groove siding and long walls. It features a living room / office space; a kitchen with a fridge, double sink and a four-burner stove; a bathroom with shower and compost toilet; a sleeping loft with a queen-sized mattress and storage space.

The solar panels installed on the roof generate enough clean energy to keep the house powered throughout the day. These are connected to maintenance-free deep cycle AGM batteries and a MidNite Solar charge controller and Xantrex inverter that keep the system running throughout the night.
During its five-month journey across the country, The Tiny Solar House has visited Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The owner is planning to go on a tour of the East Coast this fall, followed by a tour of the West Coast in the winter and a trip to the Northwest in the spring.
http://inhabitat.com/amazing-off-grid-tiny-solar-house-travels-across-the-u-s/
On – 14 Oct, 2016 By Lidija Grozdanic
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Energy storage key to reliable solar power systems
To sustain the growth profile of alternative energy systems like solar power, experts have stressed the need for the deployment of effective and quality energy storage systems like batteries.
In an interview with the Founder and Executive Director of Greenicles Solar, Lanre Okanlawon, he said there is a gradual shift from the previously cynical and doubtful stance evident of about three years ago, to a more receptive and positive outlook, stating that public perception is changing.
Okanlawon said: “In 12 months, the Solar Nigeria programme alone installed solar electricity for 170,000 homes across Nigeria. This and many other successful projects carried out by solar power installation companies have positively impacted the market and reduced reliance on the unstable power from PHCN.”
He added that apart from achieving power independence, many customers confirm there has been money savings and elimination of noise from generators by going solar.
However, he said there is an area of concern that seems to be causing dissatisfaction among a small but vocal number of customers. “Because solar panels generate electricity only when exposed to sunlight, they are heavily reliant on an energy storage medium to store the power generated during the day for use at night. This is where batteries become very essential for solar power applications,” he said.
He recalled that there had been much development in battery energy storage for solar power applications globally. Batteries have been found to ease the deployment of solar to both the most advanced societies and the most remote parts of the world.
According to him, a typical solar power system consists of solar panels, a charge controller, inverter, circuit breakers and a bank of batteries. On average, the batteries make up, at least, 40 per cent of the total material cost of a typical solar power system in Nigeria, that is, an off-grid or hybrid solar electricity system.
“This is quite understandable due to its significant role of storing power and providing power backup at night or on cloudy days,” he added. He explained that due to lack of technical know-how some installers fall short of taking the necessary steps to determine the suitable battery storage capacities needed by their customers. Failure to do this, results in poor performance and total energy discharge, which ultimately lead to shortened battery life.
According to him, in 2016, battery energy storage systems installed by Greenicles Solar across Nigeria stored more than 30 megawatt-hours of electricity.
Speaking on the issue of substandard and counterfeit batteries in the market, Okanlawon advised that batteries should only be purchased from reputable dealers and distributors, especially those who provide product warranty.He added, “Obvious fake identification markers on batteries are misspellings, faded colours on the labels and badly constructed battery casings. Also, he said spurious claims about battery capacity and number of cycles are recognizable give-aways that they are fake. Blurred manufacturers’ logos are also quite common in the underworld markets of batteries for solar power applications.”
https://guardian.ng/business-services/energy-storage-key-to-reliable-solar-power-systems/
On – 24 May, 2017 By Contributors
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Savvy seniors are buying tiny homes to enjoy their golden years in off-grid style
There’s no rule that says tiny home living has to be just for the young. In fact, seniors are starting a new trend by investing in smaller spaces so they can live out their golden years off-grid and burden-free. Take a look after the jump at some fearless retirees who are making the most out of retirement in custom-made tiny homes.

According to Tumbleweeds Houses, the latest trend in tiny home living is spawned by older adults who are looking to downsize as they grow older. For example, retiree Bette Presley recently took the tiny home leap at age 72. After deciding to minimize her lifestyle, she moved into a 166-square-foot Tumbleweed Elm cabin and hasn’t looked back since. The compact space has all of the comforts of home, but without the hassle of maintaining a larger area. Additionally, living off-grid was important to Presley and her tiny home is RVIA certified and comes equipped for solar power.
Related: Genius elevator bed slides vertically on rails to maximize space in Alaskan tiny home

Converting herself into a minimalist lifestyle was surprisingly easy for Presley, who told the San Luis Obispo Tribune, “We are consumers. We buy too much. We don’t need all our belongings,” she said. “I just experienced the clutter, to live in excess, and I didn’t find it particularly satisfying.”
Presley is far from alone in finding joy when breaking the confines of excess. A disabled widow, Dani, bought a compact Tumbleweed shell cabin after attending a workshop and has spent a number of years building it into the accessible home of her dreams. She has built a custom wheelchair ramp that leads up to the extra-wide front door and even created a custom-made chair lift using a rock climbing harness that lifts her up to the sleeping loft.

Nature-loving retiree, Adele, loved the mobile aspect of a tiny home so she invested in a tiny Tumbleweed Cypress on wheels. Not only is the cabin travel-ready, but also has a large outdoor living space, a covered porch and even a hot tub. She was even able to customize the interior with more windows in order to enjoy the beautiful views of the Oregon farm where her tiny home is parked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7muY0xq5I50
Tiny homes are also quite convenient for those who are still working in their later years. The famed Sausage Nonnas recently hit the road in three ultra-cute “tiny grandma homes” to deliver their world-famed sausages to lucky families during a campaign called Sausage Sunday.
On – 18 May, 2017 By Nicole Jewell
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Building off the grid 3 ways
What would your home look like if you unplugged for good? Tour these one-of-a-kind versions of living that dream as seen in three DIY Network specials of Building Off the Grid: Mountain Man Cave, Tiny House on a Lake and Coastal Maine.
Rugged outdoorsman Joe Donovan decided to build himself a permanent base camp on 10 acres of mountain wilderness. That camp takes the form of a 24-by-28-foot straw-bale cabin, a very old—and, in modern America, very rare—type of dwelling.The insulating straw bales beneath thick layers of stucco at this southern Montana cabin are held together by chicken wire hand-sewn with rope. The load-bearing frame itself is made of massive logs.Composting toilets aren’t for everyone, but this one more than compensates for its rustic ways with a spectacular view of the Montana wilderness. (Bonus: No need to abandon said view to fetch water for the cistern, or to scamper to an outhouse in the middle of the night.)The versatile space behind a Montana cabin’s bathroom features a television and turntable powered by solar panels, as well as a painterly reminder of why its owner chose to build in the wilderness.Thick straw walls are designed to help this space stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter—but given how quickly the weather in the northern Rockies can change, concentrated heat from a wood-burning stove is a must.Scenery is the star of Joe Donovan’s off-the-grid plan, as he designed his home around the Missouri River view he envisioned having from his front deck. Bonus: It’ll face the warmth of the sun in the wintertime.At the northern end of Montana, yurt-dwellers Sean and Mollie Busby take their independent-living plan to the next level by building their dream home overlooking Whitefish Lake. This 12-by-20-foot, two-story home comprises about 480 square feet of interior space.This diminutive dwelling at the edge of Glacier National Park affords its owners plenty of room. The spacious deck nearly doubles its footprint.The live-edge siding on this tiny house can last for up to 30 years. It shares space with reclaimed wood, which rings in at a fifth of what local stores charge for new lumber.The wood from this portion of a tiny home on the shore of Whitefish Lake comes from a timber swap (where the owners exchanged fresh-cut pieces from their property for drier logs that were already seasoned for building).While this northern Montana cabin’s owners plan to live off the grid, their nameplate reflects their interest in maintaining close connections to their community.This outdoorsy family of six built their 16-by-20-foot off-the-grid retreat on Maine’s remote Pemaquid Peninsula in less two weeks (with a bit of help from their friends).This 6-foot-tall black bear welcomes guests to a self-sustaining cabin in Bristol, Maine. In keeping with the homeowners’ lickety-split building plan, their friend carved the sculpture in less than eight hours.A gutter-and-downspout system collects rainfall in a catchment for drinking, cooking and bathing—a very good thing, since the nearest alternative source of water is a half-mile away.While the kitchen in this remote cabin has no light switches or running water, a granite slab countertop and vintage canister set deliver ample (and appropriately rustic) style.On – 22 Feb, 2017 By Lauren Oster





