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Understanding Solar Energy

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261 points chmaynard | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.209s | source
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CrzyLngPwd ◴[] No.43428900[source]
I have been off-grid with a small solar generation system of 2.5kwh of solar and 3.6kwh of battery storage for a year.

I had to run a generator a number of times during the darker weeks, but now we have longer days. I don't recall when I last ran it.

With solar, or any off-grid system, the number one thing that needs to change is you.

Switch stuff off, get energy efficient things, use power tools and charge their batteries when the sun is shining, use gas for hot water and cooking, and a log burner for heat (If I had my time again I would use a back boiler for water heating during the winter, and solar for water heating the rest of the time).

When I lived in a typical house, I averaged around 12.5kwh per day. Now, it's around 2.5kwh per day.

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1. ◴[] No.43440286[source]