Living a Solar Lifestyle (image from Andy Cripe/The Corvallis Gazette-Times)
If you’ve ever wondered whether you could live off solar power 100%, perhaps you’d like to read about someone who is already doing so. In Corvallis, Oregon, about two hours south of Portland, Jonathan Carroll has outfitted his home with solar panels that generate four times his personal electricity demand. And we are not talking a giant solar array, either.
Mr. Carroll’s modest home – all 750 square feet of it – is situated to make the most of its southern exposure. He has installed several PV solar panels, as well as a solar thermal panel to provide solar hot water. Just check out the photo to the left.
Carroll enjoys the benefits of an eco-friendly lifestyle, which includes minimal bills, thanks to his frugal living. He drives a Zap electric car, which is also powered by the solar energy generated by the panels on his home.
The residential solar panels on Carroll’s home provide power for his car, his bicycle light, his tools and his home electricity requirements. Sure, he eschews some modern conveniences like gas-powered lawn mowers (preferring to hear the birds while trimming his grass with a push mower), but he does use electrical lights, as well as a TV, microwave and his electric guitars.
In cloudy, oftentimes rainy Oregon, it might be surprising to learn that Jonathan Carroll doesn’t pay a cent for electricity. In fact, by generating more electricity than he uses, Mr. Carroll is entitled to a net metering credit from his utility company. But no matter where you live, ample UV light that hits the earth each and every day that could provide power that could reduce our use of fossil-fuel sources of energy.
This solar power case study is but one example of how you can save both money and carbon emissions by switching to solar power. Its probably easier than you might imagine.
Just ask Jonathan Carroll.
Tags: home solar panels, living off solar panels, residential solar panels, solar case study, solar lifestyle, solar power 100%
