Energy Family Part 1 - Off The Grid

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POWER HOUSE
The author, who lives off the electrical grid in rural Vermont, will experiment with alternative energy systems for POPULAR MECHANICS over the next six months. Currently, his household 1) burns four to five cords of wood for heat each year and 2) uses about 600 gal. of propane for cooking and heating water. Electricity is supplied by 3) an array of four solar panels, which generate up to 285 watts apiece, supplemented by 4) a 5800-watt, gas-powered generator. According to the Department of Energy, the average American household uses 29-plus kilowatt-hours per day; the author uses fewer than three in his 2200-sq.-ft. home.

Read PM's Energy Family Blog written by Ben Hewitt.
Print story Part 2 - "Cold Comfort"

Energy independence is a compelling concept these days, not just for nations but for individual homeowners as well. But it's not easy to achieve. My wife, Penny, and I have spent the past eight years living on 40 rolling acres of northern Vermont in a house that's not connected to the electrical grid. We run a fairly labor-intensive mix of solar panels, a gas-powered generator, propane tanks and a wood stove to meet our energy needs. Our system has become more efficient over the years, though there's still room for improvement.

Increasingly, we have company, as alternative energy becomes more mainstream. Jim Grundy, owner of the solar-panel company Elemental Energy, in East Montpelier, Vt., says his business is up 400 percent since 2002. Other suppliers across the country report similar increases. Take your pick of reasons: rising energy prices, patriotism, concern about global warming or drilling in wilderness areas--or all of the above.

Over the next six months, Penny and I will act as guinea pigs as POPULAR MECHANICS explores how close an American family can get to self-sufficiency when it comes to household electricity and heating while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. In this DIY project, there will be no cold showers or hitting the sack at sundown to save on electricity. The lessons learned will apply to the many people interested in trimming their utility bills, as well as to the few who want to try weaning themselves from the electric company altogether. We'll be publishing the results in the magazine and in PM's Energy Family Blog.

• For background information on how solar cells work, click here.

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