Solar PV,Kingston Peninsula

System

Sun: 180W (12x15W) PV system for off-grid house
Biomass:Wood stove for cooking, space heating and hot water

Cost: $2000 O&M replaced batteries once, has had to replace a few broken panels.

Date of Installation: June 1998

Type/kind: Residential (1 occupants)

Installer: Self-install of all systems

Supplier: Canadian tire for PV's and batteries.

Experience: Good experience overall, but has had to adjust lifestyle to one that is less reliant on electricity.

Results: He has a comfortable living environment, enjoy living off-grid

Description of Case Study: The owner started constructing his off-grid home on a 20 acre woodlot in 1996-97. He strove to have as low an impact as possible for the construction, and did this through a number of ways: all wood was milled on site from local sources, recycled materials were used whenever possible (such as old doors), he uses a composting toilet so as to reduce the use of water. He supplies all of his own fire wood from the woodlot.

The small PV system, 12 15 watt solar panels, for a total of 180 watts, powers lights, a water pump, a few appliances, and other basics. A wood stove provides for cooking, space and water heating. While a small fridge is powered by propane.

The owner feels that there are a few things that will drive the green movement – no power bills and no mortgage, both of which are the case with his house.