View source for Off-Grid Energy Strategy

All loads can run during the day if one devises a smart energy system for a home and has access to low cost photovoltaic power such as from [[Sunelec]].

Further, one can run most loads on solar: cooking with high efficiency induction cooktop; hot water with minitank heaters; AC and heat with heat pump. Fridge as a [[Freezer to Fridge Conversion]]. Then the only loads left for the night are lights and computers if one is a late night information worker.

Thus, there is a low level of power that is required during the night. This power can be produced with a small battery bank, or with a house generator. It seems that a sensible way to achieve this would be via nickel iron batteries - a small backup system that lasts for a long time. For a household that runs 3 hours of 200W - that would be under 1 kWhr of power. 

The most energy-saving route is the nickel-iron. If you examine [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Q32dGX2Gp8uA5qUTZV_qaXOwn7ZVcnNzus1VvobjLX0/edit#slide=id.gc5af960814_1_22] from [[Nickel-Iron Battery Quotes]] - a 2kWhr system would cost $1100 in nickel-iron batteries. If this is true - ie, if the batteries can really be discharged down to near full - then this is a promising way to solve the storage issue. '''The key is superefficiency by blowing out of proportion the available solar photovoltaic power during the day - and coasting at night with a small load. A backup house generator can complete the whole package - a small remote control or auto transfer switch generator converted from a portable generator. This is possible because PV panels now cost about 34 cents per watt.

The ramifications for the Seed Eco-Home are true zero energy operation option, with minimal lifestyle adjustment. For those who would like to have no lifestyle adjustment, they can still use a transfer switch option, and not pay their energy bill. It makes no sense to run coal and nukes when free electricity from the sun is available.

=Cost Savings=
Average household utility bills total $2k per year [https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/personal-finance/articles/average-cost-of-utilities] or $3k per year [https://www.move.org/utility-bills-101/]. Thus, over a lifetime, one can save $140-210k in utility bills alone! Think about what could be done with this money if the costs didn't exist.

=Links=
*[[Nickel-Iron Batteries]]