Choosing Renewable Energy
(Page 5 of 7)
April/May 2008
By John Gulland and Wendy Milne
Recently, I was reminded of some of these benefits. As we watched the turbine rise on its final lift on a neighbor’s homestead, the delighted owner turned to me and said, “It never occurred to me that it takes a community to raise a turbine tower.”
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That observation contrasts sharply with the view of renewable energy households as somehow separate, independent, and even isolated from the local community. The language most often associated with renewables supports this perception. The phrases “off the grid,” “energy independence” and “energy security,” all evoke an image of disconnection from the community and from the larger political and corporate structures. But these words and the image of withdrawal tend to belie the complex role of renewables in our lives.
While using renewables has increased our independence and sense of security, and lessened our carbon emissions, another benefit is in knowing that we are contributing, even in a small way, to the health and sustainability of the local community. Converting our house to renewables was a hands-on experience that, like gardening and landscaping, has deepened our commitment to our home and community. We have provided some work for local trades and kept our money circulating locally instead of sending it off to the oil and gas companies. Perhaps most importantly, our efforts and those of others using renewable energy are helping to create a “buzz” in the area that alternative ways of living are possible.
The Details of Our Renewable Energy Systems
Our sources of renewable energy are wood for space heating, water heating (in winter) and cooking; solar for electricity and water heating (in summer); and wind for electricity. We also use small amounts of non-renewable fuel oil, propane and grid electricity.
The lowest maintenance feature of our electricity system is the solar photovoltaic panels. The only labor they demand is to change their angle in spring and fall to more closely match the height of the sun in the sky. The wind turbine needs service once a year at most, but bringing it down to ground level is a serious undertaking, involving the help of a few friends. Servicing means greasing the bearings at minimum, but more serious repairs can involve replacing bearings or refinishing the blades.
The liquid level in our bank of eight huge 6-volt batteries must be checked periodically and topped off with distilled water. Their state of charge is a matter of constant interest and attention. A meter in the kitchen tells us how much charge is left in the batteries, and it is usually the first thing I look at when I come down in the morning and the last thing I check before bed. During periods of little sun and wind, we connect to the electrical grid to charge the batteries, something that happens roughly once a month. People who are off-grid use gas or diesel generators instead.
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