Building Off The Grid: Solar Energy
Living off the grid, to many, is a dream. When it comes time to turn that dream into real life, there are certain necessities to think about, like electricity. After building with Ormeida Cabins, solar energy is a feature many owners explore to complete their off-grid setup.
The Financial Benefit Of Solar Panels For Cabins
When you are building a custom cabin in a remote area, it is important to think about every little thing you will need. First off, you’ll need electricity and, by extension, a source for that electricity.
Even if you wanted to, having an electric company run poles from their generator to your location would be extremely expensive — anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000. Solar panels are not nearly as expensive.
Solar Panel Supplies And Costs
Instead of buying electricity from an electric company, you can buy supplies for solar panels. By spending about $5,000 to $15,000, you can purchase all you need for solar energy. These supplies are:
- Solar panels
- Solar panel racking system
- Trickle charger
- Combiner box
- Bank of batteries
- Power inverter
- Fuses
- Grounding solution
Although installing a solar panel system may be more expensive up front, it will save you a lot of money in the long run. Once everything is installed, you can have free electricity for up to 25 years!
Installing a Solar Panel Kit
Installing a solar panel kit is not as difficult as it may seem! In order to have a functional and effective solar panel setup, you should have around 4,000 total watts of power, or sixteen 250-watt panels. However, some people can get by with around 1,000 watts of power.
Selecting the most effective solar panels, power inverters and wiring voltage is the key to creating a reliable setup for your cabin. 12, 24 or 48-volt wiring configurations are the most common options for heavy-load systems.
There are many YouTube videos that can help further explain installations step-by-step. Experts can also help you figure out how many days of electricity usage to store in your battery banks — this will help you account for rainy or cloudy weather.
Perks of Solar Energy
Believe it or not, there are still many rural and remote areas in Texas! And with year-round warm weather, these areas are perfect for a cabin to run on solar energy.
Not only will you save lots of money on electricity, but you can explore new ways of life with solar energy. There are so many different things you can do — all powered by solar panels! They include (but are not limited to):
- Heat water
- Purify water
- Heat your entire home
- Cook
- Dehydrate food
- Evaporate moisture from septic tanks
With the sun out to shine more often than in other states, solar energy is very efficient for cabins in Texas — all of your home’s essentials can be powered by solar energy!
The Best Texas Cabin Builder For Your Solar-Powered Cabins
Once you make your dream of a remote cabin reality, there are so many things to think about! With Ormeida Cabins, you’ll have help through the entire cabin-building process. If you have questions or inquiries about your future cabin, feel free to contact Ormeida Cabins!
