Solar Power for Your Remote Cabin

The first step is to calculate how much power your solar power system needs to generate. Add up the wattage of all your household devices you use at once, everything from the fridge to the light bulbs (CFLs of course!). If this is a seasonal/weekend cabin, 400-500 watts is usually enough.

If you don't have enough upfront cash to get a system this big all at once, don't worry. Once you get the basic infrastructure built, you can just add panels to increase your wattage.

Now you will want to decide what major appliances you need. Newer appliances are much more efficient, so if possible use newer models. Don't be afraid to scale down, this is a cabin we're talking about here. A brand new mini-fridge is a much better option than a 30 year old full-size fridge.

A new fridge uses about half the energy of a 10 year old fridge. The fridge uses 5-8% of total energy of the average home. You can see how important it is to get good appliances.

Consider if a water system is necessary. If you decide you want a water system, I would recommend a gravity fed system so you don't need to waste power on a water pump.

If you use your cottage often, you might consider a solar powered well pump that would feed to a tank in the attic. Solar powered water heaters are a great option to consider as well. You can really save a lot of power by using the sun to heat your water.

Finally, and most importantly: Don't spend thousands on a professional system! You can learn to build your own solar panels for under $200. Don't get suckered into spending 10 times that. You may be thinking: "But I don't know how to build a solar panel. That sounds complicated!" It's not as tricky as you might think...

1. You will save hundreds of dollars every time you get your power bill!

2. This is great for our environment and your children will thank you for it.

3. With our complete instructions this makes for a fun at home project.

4. When you can make renewable power for less than $200, why wouldn't you!

5. You will be able to spend your savings on more important things

6. Knowing that you are doing your part to conserve our planet feels great!

7. Fully illustrated instructions make this a very simple job for anybody!