| Author |
Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  advice for alternative energy?  |
|
|
farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 20 2012 : 1:58:37 PM
|
Last place we owned, our electric was 80-100 a month. (Then we rented from parents for four years). Now we are at the farm and just got our first real electric bill and its almost 300. We aren't even running stuff in any of the barns yet. And we aren't obnoxious with leaving lights on and running stuff in the house all the time either. I just about choked when I opened the bill. My hubby and I have always wanted to use alternative energy/be off grid and now that we have our own place we can start working towards that goal. I am looking for suggestions on websites, books, etc about alternative energy. Also, maybe how to tell what in your house is sucking all the power?
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
|
|
oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2012 : 3:07:34 PM
|
Ouch...1st I would have your power company come out and check your meter , then double check to see if they are charging you Ag or commercial rates, that will make a big differance...wind and solar is great, and you can run off them completly or partialy, I use both and still I'm on the grid for my wells, cause they are 3 phase electrical. See if anything is useing ghost power, and make sure you don't have someone stealing power from you (that happens alot, all over the states)...good luck...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
 |
|
|
nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2875 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2875 Posts |
|
|
nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2875 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2875 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2012 : 8:33:06 PM
|
also.. I feel your pain. We do not run our furnace at all, heat with all wood, & our electric bill is still 175-200 monthly.
(computers TV, hot water heater & other basics.)
I freak when hubby leaves lights on, but cannot fathom why it costs $200 a month to equip a house without using a conventional heat source. YIKES! |
|
|
|
FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2012 : 4:50:35 PM
|
We have all electric at our house. The heater definitely uses the most and the a/c comes in a distant second in the summer. We had the a/c replaced just over a year ago. I'm thinking the heater is probably around 10 years old. I use the clothesline a lot to keep from using the dryer. Make sure you don't have any big air leaks around windows or doors.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2012 : 5:41:32 PM
|
Check your refrigerator. My old one was an energy hog and when I got a new one, my electric bill dropped thirty dollars a month.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6601 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6601 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 09:10:34 AM
|
| We use solar heat for hot water and it is amazing how much that saves! I also agree that you have to make sure you have energy efficient windows, no drafts at doors etc. and good insulation in your ceiling. Maybe you need to add more up there as you would be amazed at how much heating and cooling flows out of your house. Good luck and I feel confident that you will be able to do some things that will help. Maybe your utility company will send out someone for free to give you an energy audit and things that would help. We did that way back in 1985 when we got the house and it did make a huge difference in just little stuff. |
|
|
|
farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 10:59:46 AM
|
Thanks for all the tips gals. All the appliances here are brand new as there were no appliances here when we moved in. I know that the windows aren't the best because they are all single pane - we will work on getting those changed out as money allows. I know one of the major differences is that we have three floors in this house and there was only one floor in our old house. But we do not keep it very warm. We will be switching out to an outdoor boiler before next winter, as this place has fuel oil and we've dropped $1,600 into it since we moved here mid December. What a waste of money. Frustrating because we only keep the house at 65 and we're still using that much fuel...it hasn't even been a regular COLD Minnesota winter! :( GRRRR!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6601 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6601 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 4:11:06 PM
|
| I just had a thought. Could you install one of those Vermont Cast iron wood burning stoves? I understand that they really put out the heat and since heat rises, it might keep 2 of the 3 floors warm and you can cut down on the fuel oil. I am wondering if the cost to install would be easily made up by savings in fuel oil. the new ones now are very efficient and they add a wonderful ambience. Could also be installed where an existing fire place exists ? I have seen that in magazines. Your heating costs seem so high to me but maybe they are per usual for your area of the country? |
|
|
|
oregonatural
True Blue Farmgirl
152 Posts
Susan
Sprague River
OR
USA
152 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2012 : 05:55:31 AM
|
You may qualify for an agricultural elect. rate if you are farming, which is significantly cheaper but you have to install a separate meter for the ag stuff.
We use two things in our off-grid life: solar and firewood. We do use a diesel generator sometimes, but not very often as we have lots of sun. I love the solar. The initial investment can be a bit steep but after that, $0. I love firewood for heating, it's great on my old joints and it heats our hot water too and cooks our food, all that from one fire, makes it very eco.
Here's a link to the solar outfit we have used for years and I trust them. They don't sell junk and there is lots of great info on their website. http://www.backwoodssolar.com/
Best of luck!
Susan
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
ETSY Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OregonNatural
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
|
|
|
bananachicken
True Blue Farmgirl
67 Posts
Ginny
Ohio
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2012 : 8:11:28 PM
|
I am so glad to see this. We just bought a little historic hobby farm and our electric bill is always around $165. We hang clothes and are all over lighting...we even use candles most nights! Our hot water is electric, but it seems like no matter what we do, it is always the same. I am glad to see the replies and am anxious to check out that blog! :)
"I should be having tea right now."
-Lady Annalía Elisabet Catherina Tristán Llorente |
|
|
| |
Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: advice for alternative energy? |
|
advice for alternative energy?
