What Are the Pros and Cons of Going Off the Grid?

People see big power companies ever increasing their costs. As energy cost go up for the long term, more people look for ways to use less energy to save money. People keep paying and paying the utility company and the bill gets higher and higher. With the cost of energy ever increasing to new highs, there are more people then ever looking into using alternative energy in their homes as a cost savings.

The Mother Earth News article dated June 19, 2009 What Are the Pros and Cons of Going Off the Grid? by Linda Pinkham talks about the overall scope of going off the grid. Pinkham discusses some of the basic equipment advantages and drawbacks but didn't go into the true depth of the issues of costs versus benefits.

On May 21, 2009, Pinkham also wrote What’s the Average Cost to Install a Solar-Electric System to Power Your Home? The average home has an incoming electrical line of 240 Volts that delivers 100 Amps. Using Ohms law where Volts X Amps = Watts, the average home is capable of using up to 24,000 Watts (24 kW) of power.  In Pinkham's article the installation and materials of a "10kW Gigantic" off grid system, less then half the average home's total capacity, would be over $100,000. He also lists a 5kW larger than average system costing $52,000.

When is it going to pay back?

Once a a good estimate of the cost for installation and materials is obtained, people want to know when it's going to pay off. Using the PVWatts Version 1 Calculator and, assuming a 7.9 ¢/kWh, from where I'm at in Minnesota a solar system installed would provide a cost savings of $406.22 worth of energy per year. Can that be right? With the $52,000 - 5kW larger than average system, it would take over 100 years to break even. 

What isn't discussed in those articles is the lifespan of the extra electrical equipment that is needed to be off grid. Deep Cycle Batteries used in these systems have a limited lifespan. The most popular Deep Cycle AGM would have an average life of only four to eight years (http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm#Lifespan%20of%20Batteries).

I have heard people who are interested in going off the grid say that their energy costs were too high. Those who are interested in going off the grid should start slowly by decreasing their energy consumption while on the grid. I think that it's good there are people like Ed Begley, Jr. out there that have their sustainable homes just to help the environment. At the same time, to go off the grid thinking that one would actually save money just doesn't make sense.

Readers Picks: Top Three Posts for December 2012

The winners are rated by you, my friends of this blog. 

They are rated by how many page views each post received in December 2012

What I find unusual, are the two posts that made it to the top three that were not written 2012. Many of these page views for the older post were originated through internet searches. 

 And the top posts are:

The Third Place Bronze Winner:
Matthew Fox White Zinfandel

Aug 27, 2011

Then the Second Place Silver Winner:
Is making a sale a random event, like throwing a dart at a dartboard?
Dec 8, 2012

The First Place Gold Award Winner

Twelve Days of Christmas Gifts Graph
Dec 13, 2010

In December 2012, there had been 1903 page views for this blog!

As a FYI, in the right hand column there is a listing of the top blog posts for the last seven days.

Thank you visiting and reading my blog. 

It is you, that made these posts the Top Three Posts for December 2012!

I wish 2013 to be the best for all of you! 
Have a happy New Year!

St. Gabriel 2010 Riesling (Mosel)

Inside Cossettas Italian Market

Z and I did some late Christmas shopping today and ended up at Cossetta Alimentari on West 7th Street in St. Paul, MN. This is a wonderful Italian Market and Pizzeria. I heard from one of the employees that they will be adding a Pasticceria bar which will offer Pastries and Gelatos. We shopped there for a few last-minute gifts and a treat for ourselves.

Being that Z is not totally crazy about Proscuitto, a well-aged salted ham that tastes best sliced so thin that light can be seen through it which flavors complement melons, I had to pass on getting that.

Sliced Prosciutto that
I love served just like this.

The small treat we purchased was some diced Parmesan cheese. After we arrived home and put the groceries and other purchases away, Z opened the Parmesan. After having a couple of bites, I suggested a wine. Z agreed. After I consulted a Wine and Cheese paring website, Gourmet Sleuth, I resolved that either a Chardonnay or a Riesling would be appropriate.

I chose a bottle of 2010 St Gabriel Riesling (link is to the Wine Expert rating) from Germany's Mosel region in Germany. The back label boasts that the Mosel region is known for it's steep slopes and mineral-rich soils, then add it to the area's climate, give this wine a deliciously light, aromatic tickle with flavors of green apple and hints of lime citrus notes. The label goes on to say that this wine should be served with light meals, salads, spicy Asian cuisine or on its own. The screw top cap didn't deter me from purchasing this, nor deter me from opening it for a taste. The percentage of alcohol by volume is listed at 9.5%. Though the retail on a bottle of this is around $9, I had noted when I purchased this that we paid $6.75 on sale...a bargain, indeed, for such a pleasant wine!

The reason that I had purchased a couple of Riesling wines from different vintners, and parts of the world was to compare them to the 5 gallons of Riesling wine that I made and is currently aging in my cellar.  

 I measured the Specific Gravity at 1.010. This would be a sweet Riesling. I hoped it wouldn't be too sweet for the cheese and occasion.  The color is clear and pale pear in color. It has a light bouquet on the nose of lemons, pineapple, and a hint of earth. Though not unpleasant, my first observation on the tongue is that it felt of effervescence (small bubbles in the wine), as if not all of the gas was removed from this wine. There seems to be a good balance between the sweetness and the tannins. The taste brings out more of the pineapples than lemons, and leads one to taste a bit of pear, as well.

Overall this is a good wine that I would purchase again. I may even back-sweeten a gallon or two of the Riesling I made to imitate this style of Riesling.

If you have tasted this brand and year of wine please be a friend and comment below on your experience!!