Welcome back Street Survivors !
Following my article about the survivability and aftermath of a total grid down scenario in the case of an Electromagnetic Pulse or even a natural disaster, I received several concerned emails. Based on the recent vote in the South Carolina Legislature, this is a perfect time to update Street Survivors on the latest and greatest info.
The vote in Columbia focused on the limits on solar usage across the state, and those limiting caps were lifted, a win for the consumer…or so it appears. The utility industry won’t give up without a fight, so if you’re considering an off-grid or self-generating power supply to reduce your dependency on the electric grid, there’s no better time than the present.
Our ‘PREPPER’ brothers and sisters consider many facets of a survival scenario, from food and water to defensive weapons and power generation. One of the previous weaknesses in the solar industry was the expense and limitations of the battery storage needed to provide round-the-clock energy. Recent advances in battery technology have eliminated many of those weaknesses. The solar fed batteries of 2018 can now be fully discharged 100% and recharged 10,000 times before replacement may be needed! Space requirements are also drastically reduced compared to just a few years ago.
The added benefit to bringing down the cost of a roof or ground mounted solar system, is the current 30% Federal and 25% South Carolina tax credits. There are also many other related products that can help improve your homes energy efficiency like variable capacity HVAC systems which only use the power you actually need at a specific time rather than using the max capacity of the unit every time it turns on. Radiant barrier attic systems that help keep the hot air out, solar powered attic fans that can also pull hot air out of the attic, hybrid or tankless hot water systems are all helpful. Leasing a solar system gives the valuable tax credits to the solar company instead of you, and it doesn’t add value to your home if you don’t own it. Purchasing the system is the best way to go and same as cash no interest no payment options are available for 12 months or even longer.
Typical grid connected solar systems generate power during the day and actually ‘sell’ it back to your electric utility, then they ‘buy’ it back at night when the sun goes down. This process can offset virtually 100% of your electric usage if the solar system is sized correctly. The problem is, if the grid goes down, your solar won’t help you, so if you’re looking for protection during a total grid down situation, you’ll want to investigate adding the battery backup option to your solar purchase. Once the solar system is paid off, you’ll be getting your electricity for free!
As I’ve recently connected with U.S. Energy Solutions here in Taylors, SC I can also provide our Street Survivors with an additional discount to the systems they provide. Feel free to call me at: 864-907-7678 or email at: Rick@WhyGreenEnergy.com to learn more about the discount and the options you have including financing packages. It’s very possible to get 4 or more years of your electrical usage paid for by the South Carolina tax credits, major discounts in electrical costs after that, and once the system is paid off, you will get free energy from the sun ! As energy costs are projected to increase a minimum of 3% per year, generating your own energy is a wise financial decision, which also adds significant value to the appraised value of your home.
Don’t be a victim…
be a Street Survivor !
Please send in your questions and comments to: Streetactics@gmail.com.
Rick ‘Pirate Hunter’ Grover strongly believes we’re all in this together, and the more we learn and train, the better we’ll be prepared for any eventuality. This makes all of us part of an amazing neighborhood team of American Patriots. God Bless America ! ♦
