I feel like I always think of solar punk as a macro thing where a lot has to change but there are still smaller wins we can implement, what have you been doing?
I feel like I always think of solar punk as a macro thing where a lot has to change but there are still smaller wins we can implement, what have you been doing?
I already had a professionally installed solar system on my roof, but the capacity isn’t great (12 years old) and adding to it isn’t feasible. I do have a pergola over my backyard patio, so I bought 4 new (and large) panels, an off-grid inverter, and 5kWh battery. I put the panels on the pergola, ran wiring into the garage, and hooked up the inverter and battery in there. I then wired one of my level 1 chargers to the inverter. I use it to help charge my cars. I try to plug the charger in during the day as much as we can to charge the cars directly, but the 5 kWh server rack battery is there to soak up electrons when the cars are in use.
I thought about skipping the server rack battery for a cheaper setup, but it’s been worth it considering how often a car isn’t available to charge directly. It’s not integrated into the house circuits, so no permit needed.
My wife’s family has property out in the forest (Navajo reservation) with a house that doesn’t have running water or power, so we’re going to start fixing it up for her mom to live there (she recently retired) and will be setting up an off-grid power solution and water system soon. We’ll have to haul water from the nearest chapter house, but there’s a program to provide and install a 1200 gallon storage tank underground that we’ll use. Probably augment that with a rainwater catchment setup. Maybe even start raising sheep again, no one in her family has used their grazing rights for years, since her grandmother passed away. My wife spent many summers at that property. Used to be summer only due to the snow and dirt roads, but thanks to global warming, it’s a viable year-round housing site now.