Some California Families Save Energy By Creating Own Electricity
The Modesto Bee, Calif. - May 7, 2003
There are no power lines leading to the Ferry or Kimbro homes in this rural setting.
Unlike most U.S. energy users the Ferrys and Kimbros are considered "off
the grid" because they create all their own electricity.
"All the off-grid technology is proof positive that residential energy
consumption can be reduced," said Don Loweburg, co-owner of Off Line
Independent Energy Systems of North Fork in Madera County. His company installs
solar panels and other energy-producing devices for homes.
The Kimbros became off-gridders when they moved to their nonelectrified rural
home nearly 20 years ago.
To make power, they installed solar panels, a bank of batteries and a
converter to change the battery power from direct current to alternating
current. Most appliances run on alternating current.
"If we have too many days without sunshine, I use a backup gas
generator," Gail Kimbro said. He uses gas generation a couple times a week
in the winter, but rarely in the summer.
The Ferrys also have solar panels and a gas generator. Their property has an
added bonus -- a small creek named Porath Gulch.
They also have the legal rights to the water running through their property,
which allows them to put it to any domestic use, including making power.
The Ferrys hired Loweburg to build a small hydroelectric generator on the
property. Water from the creek turns the disc on a converted semi-truck
alternator, which recharges their home's batteries.
When it's raining and overcast in the winter, the Ferrys live off
hydroelectric power. When it's warm and sunny during the summer, they use the
solar panels.
When they first moved into their home three years ago, they used energy like
they did when they lived in the city, even though they were relying on a gas
generator and the hydroelectric plant for power.
They quickly ran out of electricity, Lynn Ferry said.
The solar panels were added this year to prevent that from happening again,
and the couple began cutting back on their power consumption.
"When we first moved in, I had this row of lights that used nine
incandescent bulbs, or about 540 watts," she said. "By switching to
fluorescent bulbs, we reduced the amount of power to less than 100 watts."
"Now, you think before you use the toaster," Richard Ferry said.
"When I make a piece of toast, I can look at my energy meter and watch it
soar."
He hasn't given up toast, he said, and their home is well-lit. But the couple
takes a closer look at all electric appliances before buying and using them to
make sure they are the most efficient on the market.
When they shopped for a new refrigerator last year, they carefully read the
"Energy Star" labels and searched for the most efficient one.
"I guess if you bought a fridge with a lot of fancy features, it would
use a lot more power," Lynn Ferry said. "But we discovered that most
refrigerators on the market are energy-efficient."
The Kimbros also live energy-efficient lives. Besides doing all the things
the Ferrys do, they also have learned how to reduce their "phantom
load."
"The things that draw power that you think have been turned off, that's
a phantom load," Gail Kimbro said. "Anything that uses a remote
control has to constantly draw power in order to be activated by the push of a
remote button."
Items that typically use a phantom load include televisions, VCRs, cable
boxes, stereo amplifiers, DVD players, computers and microwaves.
"I put my microwave on a switch and turn it on when I'm going to use
it," he said. "Then when I'm done, I turn it off.
The Ferrys said they haven't eliminated all of their phantom load because
their solar and hydroelectric generators produce more power then they need.
"We can be a little sloppy with our energy use," Richard Ferry
said. "It's like being back on the grid again."
Except that the Ferrys still consume less power than most homes, said
Loweburg, of the Madera energy systems company.
The average home in Modesto used 805 kilowatt-hours of electricity in March
of this year, said Maree Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Modesto Irrigation
District. The average off-grid home, on the other hand, uses about 500
kilowatt-hours, said Loweburg, even with the refrigerator, microwave and stereo
system.
"All their electronic items are normal, though it's all very
efficient," Loweburg said.
Conserving energy is the best way to cut down on energy consumption and
reduce a utility bill, Loweburg said. Valley homeowners who want to reduce bills
even further might consider installing solar panels.
"My rule of thumb is energy-efficiency pays off three to one compared to
solar electric," Loweburg said. "Efficiency first, solar electric
second."
The average-sized solar system for a home costs about $20,000 but comes with
an $8,000 rebate from the state, Loweburg said.
He estimated that it takes 10 years for a solar panel to pay for itself.
"The panels have a lifespan of 30 years, so that's free electricity for
20 years," he said. "The people who will benefit the most are people
who stay in their homes."
Jean Boicelli, a sixth-grade teacher who lives in Turlock, said using solar
power and being energy-efficient have paid off for her.
Boicelli, who lives in a 2,000-square-foot home, said two years ago her
electric bill during the summer was about $130 a month or more. Last year it was
under $90, she said.
The biggest thing she did was install a whole-house fan, she said. It would
vent all the hot air out of the home and create a breeze in the house.
She also had the insulation in the home redone to keep the house cooler in
the summer and warmer in the winter.
"Last year was a hot summer, but we only had to turn on the air
conditioning three times," Boicelli said. "The year before we had it
on almost every day during the summer."
The Ferrys said that by being off the grid, they feel they are leading more
independent lives.
"If there's a blackout, you aren't affected by it," Lynn Ferry
said. "It's a wholesome feeling to be in that position -- to be
self-sufficient."
-----
To see more of The Modesto Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.modbee.com
(c) 2004, The Modesto Bee, Calif. Distributed by Knight
Ridder/Tribune Business News.