Strategies towards 100% solar power and off-grid for everyone

The installation of a system that generates the required power which was taken from the grid previously basically means to substitute the power source with an often expensive solar system. While there is nothing bad with this, there are 2 significant disadvantages: 1. This way is only available to people who have the required money for investment 2. It's sub optimal, because it only replaces the power source without re-thinking the whole power consumption.

We were re-thinking power consumption and we show you strategies which almost anyone can implement with a small investment here and there and behavioral changes. Such an approach is ideal for sunny and hot countries, where you can achieve a lot with small investments.

1. Substitution of electric appliances with a manual approach or non-electric tools

Many electric appliances which have gradually entered our households can easily be substituted with manual tools. Typically the manual approach needs zero or only a very small investment, typically it uses less resources and is as such more sustainable and has less operational costs. In many cases the extra work is just a little to zero. Considering the extra work it is important to consider the extra work for the manual task but also the extra work to earn the money to buy and run the electric device. Often one makes the mistake to only consider the extra work for the manual task and to forget, that we have to work to buy and run an electric device. Typically the manual task helps to keep the body fit.

Possible substitutions:

• Electric toothbrush: Brush with a toothbrush
• Bicycle: Replace your electric bicycle with a classic bike/bicycle
• Shaver: Shave with dispensable razor or even better with a long lasting shaving razor
• Tumbler: Dry your cloth by air
• Dishwasher: Wash by hand, dry by air
• Mixer: Hand-operated mixer or the old-fashioned way with a whisk
• Coffee machine: Replace the coffee machine with coffee powder/hot water or an Italian coffee maker
• Hair dryer: Dry your hair by air
• Shower: Heat your water with solar power or shower cold
• Vacuum cleaner: Use a broom and shovel
• Washing machine: Hand-powered Washing Machine or wash by hand
• Oven: User a solar oven or a gas oven. The latter optimally produced from your compost
• Stove: User a solar cooker or a gas stove. The latter optimally produced from your compost

2. Replacement of electric appliances with low power devices and/or run them in energy saving mode

Typically there is tremendous potential within this approach. When a device is broken you can either switch to 1. or you can 2. replace it with a device that uses much less energy.

Significant potentials:

• Lamps: LED technology, reduce light where possible, reduce enlightened space where possible, switch off not needed lights
• Computer: Use low power computers - some can run directly from a solar panel or a solar panel powered 12/24V battery
• Aircon: Replace the aircon with a fan and/or move activities to cooler spots inside or outside your home
• Timers: Use timers for devices that are not needed at certain times
• Efficiency: Use energy efficient devices for all kinds of applications (in many countries devices are sold with energy efficiency labels)
• Eco mode: Use the eco mode for dishwashers, washing machines and other devices
• No standby: Switch off not needed devices when they are not used

3. Stop using electric devices without replacement

Beside substitution and replacement with low power devices, there are also many devices which we can just eliminate because they are not really needed, living without them brings more quality of life or they are utterly useless i.e. a useless commodity has been sold to us with hard selling or other marketing tricks.

Possibilities:

• TV
• Electric leave remover
• Hair Coach
• Vacuum Cleaner Shoes
• Egg Minder
• Smart Saltshaker
• Etc.

4. Use micro cells instead of a big system

This approach allows you a gradual migration with some small investments here and there. It allows you to have more specific and tailored solutions for different appliances. And it is typically more flexible, easy moveable to another location, be it temporary (travels or holidays) or permanently (move to a new living place).

Possible approaches:

• Buy pre-configured sets of devices/panels/batteries (for example for a lamp, for a fan or for a fridge)
• Create your own sets for specific applications (for example buy a panel, a battery and an inverter to migrate your fridge or buy a foldable panel and a battery to power your laptop and smartphone)

Conclusion: Using the approaches of 1. substitution, 2. replacement and 3. giving-up will tremendously reduce your energy consumption and make your living more sustainable and healthy (because many activities you do instead of the machines keeps your body fit and flexible). Once you thoroughly changed your behavior, it will be very easy to step by step power the remaining devices with flexible and affordable "micro cells".