What Does “Off the Grid” Mean?

Talk of living off the grid is popular these days, but the term seems to mean something different to each person who uses it. In its most extreme sense, the term relates to dropping out of society and living off the land in a remote location. That option is neither realistic nor desirable for most people, and therefore won’t help end your financial dependence on municipal utility sources. For the purpose of this discussion, on-grid and off-grid relate to ending your reliance on public electricity providers through the use of a renewable, alternative energy generating system.

Ending Your Reliance on Public Utilities

Although using less municipally generated electricity is beneficial for many reasons, most people are concerned with rapidly rising costs and an increasing dependence on foreign oil to generate power. Consumers have begun to assert their desire to take control over their own energy use. To achieve that goal, most understand the need for generating their own renewable electricity. Using photovoltaic, solar thermal or wind power generating systems, many consumers are coming closer to realizing their goals for independence and reduced cost.

Are You Ready to Live Off the Grid?

Chances are, you’re not ready to give yourself over to nature anytime soon. But you may be ready to start loosening the hold that public utility companies have on your wallet. That objective is not only possible today, but simple and affordable. It’s better than affordable, really. With the continuous improvement in technology and the manufacturing process, renewable energy systems will pay for themselves in a matter of years, and continue to generate free power for decades longer. This can be achieved using either a grid-tied or off-grid system.

Off-Grid Solar Electricity is Achievable Today

Photovoltaic solar energy systems have come a long way since they first appeared more than 60 years ago. Although grid-tied systems are the most commonly used in the United States today, PV systems that operate independently of local utility providers are certainly achievable. Using some type of backup system, your solar panels can produce sufficient energy to power your entire home or business. A battery bank can store enough power for nights and cloudy days, or you can supplement with a generator. A monitoring system can provide all the information you need to keep track of production and consumption data.

Intermountain Wind and Solar can help customers in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Nevada achieve their energy independence goals. If you’re ready to end your dependence on public power, contact Intermountain today for a consultation. Their experienced solar energy professionals can help you understand exactly what you need to take your electricity requirements off the grid.