Solar panels can provide energy for a self-sufficient house.
It is very difficult to make a house entirely self sufficient, but greatly increasing its level of self sufficiency is within grasp for anyone. If you live on a farm or have a private water source, you might even be able to achieve 100 percent independence. In any case, freeing yourself from the connections to the outside world helps you live in a green home that is much more cost efficient than a traditional house. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Install a heating source for your home. If you have a property with ample supplies of firewood, then wood stoves are an expedient way of heating a home in the winter time. If that is not an option, look into solar heating systems or geothermal heating. Build your home to take advantage of the natural heat of the sun. Include large south-facing windows to make the most of the available solar heat.
2. Purchase and install a method of producing enough electricity to power your home. The two basic options for doing this are solar or wind-generated power. Some homes run on a combination of both systems. In either case, you need the power collector, such as a solar panel or wind turbine, and storage. You will also need battery storage, so you will have enough power to run the home during the night or when it is not windy.
3. Find and access a water source for your home. You need ample clean water to run a self-sufficient home. Collect water from rain sources, wells, dams or springs, depending on what local water resources you have available. A gray water system is also essential to maintaining a constant source of water.
4. Retrofit your home to make it more energy efficient. When you generate your own heat and energy, you need to completely minimize your energy loss from the home. Weatherstripping, high-quality doors, energy-efficient windows and complete home insulation, including crawl spaces and attics, make the home more energy efficient.
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