Off the Grid With Solar Power

Reader Contribution by Anneli Carter-Sundqvist
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Ten years ago, before I came to Deer Isle, Dennis lived here without electricity. As the Hostel started to materialize the impracticality and hazards with candles and lanterns pushed him to set up a power system. The cost of running the grid line in from the road was too steep and the poles unsightly in the rustic setting so Dennis set up a solar electric system. The system has grown some since but is still our only source of power, giving us enough electricity for light bulbs and a computer, and on sunny days; the laundry machine, the water pump for the shower and some occasional power tools. 

To live with alternative household energy, in part or in full as we are, is to me not so much a choice of energy source but a choice of energy consumption. While it’s possible to live off the grid, with solar power for example, and still generate as much electricity as a conventional household consumes, I appreciate the limitations our fairly small set up has. Those wishing to reduce their use of conventional power often consider renewable energy, but using laundry lines instead of a dryer is also a way to reduce power usage, or reconsidering the necessity of  other household appliances.

There’s a common notion throughout society that we all should do what we can to halt global warming. Applied to that notion is the idea that we should be able to do that without having to sacrifice anything; that while it’s our duty to save the environment it’s our human right to keep all the modern technology, appliances and devices we want going. Renewable energy is often seen as a way to have it all and still feel “green” and it is indeed at a glance more environment friendly than conventional power, but no power has as low footprint as the power not used. The appliances run on green energy took energy, probably conventional, to produce. They’ll take energy to deal with once they’re ready to be replaced, probably, once again, conventional. Solar panels and wind turbines takes energy to manufacture, batteries are made of recycled lead and hydro power comes with other environmental challenges.

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