What Are Backwoods Solar Power Systems?

Backwoods Electricity

• It can cost many thousands of dollars to run electric lines to a house that is located a distance from the closest electric line --- and that is before you get the first kilowatt of electricity. Since they were going to have large up-front costs anyway some rural homeowners, including Steve and Elizabeth Wiley, have opted to generate their own electricity rather than be tied to an electric company and depend on them for your electricity and have to continue to pay them forever.

Founding a Company

• Once the Wileys had worked out the details of their own backwoods solar system, which powers their mountain home two miles from the closest utility line, they decided to start Backwoods Solar Electric Systems Company. The goal of the company is to help other rural homeowners be able to provide their own electricity as well.

Components

• Interestingly, even though they started with solar, they do not just sell photovoltaic electric systems. They also sell hydro-power systems, wind-power systems, generators and batteries for storing the locally generated electricity. In addition, Back Woods Solar sells appliances that are suited to low energy usage systems, such as DC bed warmers, solar powered attic fans, tank-less water heaters and propane or DC refrigerators.

Lifestyle Choice

• Choosing to live an off-grid backwoods solar lifestyle is a choice that involves optimizing your energy use so you can get the major benefits of electricity while using only a fraction of the power that typical on-grid users consume. That generally means that you will use low power appliances including refrigerators and freezers, along with special low-voltage lights; you also use propane or wood for heat intensive activities such as cooking, home and water heating and clothes drying.