Disconnect from the Power Grid
By crisdel12
@crisdel12 (78)
Philippines
December 15, 2010 11:31pm CST
Just a few days ago, I received my monthly electric bill. I don't usually scrutinize bills, however, I noticed that there seems to be an increase of my bill for the past 3 or 4 months. I noticed also that there are lots of charges padded into my actual consumption. This has triggered the "inventor" in me. I started thinking on what to do to minimize my electric bill or better still make it zero.
Yesterday, I finished one prototype of my LED-based lighting system. I designed this lighting system to consume only 4 watts of power. My goal for the next five months is to replace all my lighting fixtures to an LED-based lighting system. I still have a long way to go for my ultimate goal, which is to be disconnected from the power grid. I think when I reach this goal, I could really make a difference by consuming less electric power and thus helping the environment.
2 responses
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
16 Dec 10
That's a good idea. accordilng to what I've read it's lighting and airconditioning or heating in colder countries that take up a large percentage of our electric bill.And it is lighting that we can really control. Check this one out
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/ , for one I myself had already changed 80% of our lights to led lighting when I noticed that like you the electric bill kept going up, I also unplugged our water dispenser, we now cook our rice on the gas stove instead of the rice cooker because lpg is cheaper, I also attached the two refrigerators to old power supplies so I can turn them off at night through a switch instead of unplugging and turn them on again before the ice melts
. The savings I make I use to pay the aircon bills cause I have an elderly mother and children who cannot do without them. I have cut down my bill from 12,000php (260usd) to more than half , I'm so happy cause the saving can be used elsewhere instead of hand it to the greedy electric company. Good luck on you project
. The savings I make I use to pay the aircon bills cause I have an elderly mother and children who cannot do without them. I have cut down my bill from 12,000php (260usd) to more than half , I'm so happy cause the saving can be used elsewhere instead of hand it to the greedy electric company. Good luck on you project
@crisdel12 (78)
• Philippines
16 Dec 10
Thanks louievill. After I finished changing all our lighting fixtures here, I plan to start building a miniature wind turbine because I think this is a lot cheaper compare to a solar panel. I've done initial research and I found out that it is advisable to use a low-speed high voltage dc motor to be used as generator. Initially I plan to use this for lighting supply only. This may take some time but I'm really eager to make this into reality. By the way, thank you very much for the link you have provided. Hope to hear more from your side.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
16 Dec 10
oh you are like me, I am leasing a vacant lot near my home and I never had electricity connected cause I hate paying electric bills, its where I relax and enjoy, I even built a bamboo hut from bamboos I planted some 15 years ago.I plan to use alternative energy on that place too, don't know if you have seen this already but hope it will help you http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/index.html
@crisdel12 (78)
• Philippines
17 Dec 10
We're definitely on the same page..he.he.he..I have seen this site already and its very informative, in fact, I got a lot of ideas from this site particularly about the wind turbine I'm planning to build. Probably after the holidays, I'll start looking for the desired dc-motors. Yesterday, I was able to complete another LED-lighting fixtures and installed it in our doorway. I'm expecting to have a little reduction of my electricity bill starting mid-January. By the way, what type of alternative energy are you planning to use in your bamboo hut? Thanks..
@crisdel12 (78)
• Philippines
17 Dec 10
Hello gambana. Thanks for your suggestion. I'm not sure where I first heard this technology, but I think I saw one episode in discovery channel that discussed about this. I'm not sure though if was in Israel or India. Anyway, yes, I agree with you this is a less complicated than generating electricity. I will also consider this. Thanks.
