[Homestead] Electricity costs and self-reliance

Gene GeRue genegerue at ruralize.com
Fri Mar 7 11:12:47 EST 2008


In addition to gasoline and propane prices, rising energy costs will  
push electricity prices upward. Have any of you developed cost- 
effective solar systems? Wood-fired or water-powered generators?  
Anything?

How about water pumping? My cousin, the log-house builder, started out  
with a system where a solar charger charged a twelve-volt battery,  
which operated a small pump that put spring water into an old milk  
tank on the hill above his house. Worked well, although he later  
drilled a deep well, for greater dependability, volume and pressure.  
The spring had become less and less dependable, likely due to land  
clearing in the hills above.


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