Wrong. Except for the southwestern US, solar power is a money wasting greendoggle. First of all, roof? Ever try to walk on an icy roof to shovel them off? Second, batteries? No mention of batteries or other energy storage. The only reason that solar "pays for itself" is that the power company is forced to buy the power (even though it is not needed) and then sell you their gas or coal generated power when you actually need it. Solar is getting cheaper, but mostly on paper, not when you actually try to buy panels. Also the cheaper technologies are much less efficient so you would have to cover your lawn (not roof) to get enough power to do anything.
I agree.
A wood-burning/pellet-burning stove (I have one in the Machine Shed) and a gas or kerosene powered generator needs to be added to the list (and my personal stash, LOL!) Gotta have electricity to chat with other Freeper ‘survivors!’ :)
Solar is stupid up here on the Frozen Tundra. It’s 7am (been up since 5am) and still no daylight - but this IS the longest day of the year. :)
This is actually correct - anyone that has solar knows it - or should.
Plus is the event of a real armed conflict, those panels are a big bulls eye painted right on your roof for all the roving gangs to see. - You would need to be in a tightly secured locale with its own trained and standing armed forces.
When I looked into solar power I was told the power company required I be connected into the grid—so when they lost power so would I!
That defeats the whole purpose of solar power imho.
It seems that going solar on a smaller scale is more practical. You can buy solar chargers that will charge/power small electronics, cell phone, laptop, iPods, e-readers, etc. There are solar lamps for reading/lighting. Solar ovens for cooking. If you purchased a small solar panel it might power your fridge possibly to at least save your food. That is my planning.
If you live out in the country get some livestock. We are buying chickens again next year. We have them once, big pain, but, all purpose chickens are a good thing to have around.
Find out which wild plants are edible, that grow in your area.
A little basic solar is useful for anyone, it doesn’t have to be an expensive system for the entire household, or for the refrigerator or heating and cooling.
If you have enough to pump water periodically on a sunny day (it doesn’t have to be everyday) then you have more than enough to have all the LED lighting that you need at night, which would be a huge boost to the family peace of mind and sense of normality, and for continuing work and chores, and socializing at nighttime.
Charging household batteries (AA,AAA), being able to use power tools or a small TV for a short period of time, is all nice.
Something that I think most people overlook is something very important.
If things are that dire, then gasoline may be a long way off, or in short supply and you do not want to lose your car’s battery.
A single panel, can be used to keep it (them) alive and well for years, you can pull the 12 volt stuff out of cars to use if it came to that, things like the radios, and interior lights (even the trunk light, and license plate light, the clock), and even the headlights and horn to use for spotlights and an alarm in security situations.
If you want to charge up tools or power equipement gilligan island style, an average man can make about 100 watts on a bicycle powered generator.
If the grid is down, a couple hundred watts for 6-12 hours a day could make life much simpler and more comfortable.
Trying to be earth friendly and trying to break even with solar is completely different from trying to survive the end of the world.
Amen. Local gubment flushed money down the toilet installing tons of panels on new building projects. Solar pencils out around here in cases where power is needed for remote radio sites, and that's about it. Hardcore ham radio types may find it useful; otherwise it's an extravagance.