We all know that energy supplies are dwindling due to increased consumption, and there is only enough electricity to go around. To the credit of the government, amazing steps have been taken over the past few years to help get the country plugged in to renewable sources of energy. This includes solar, wind and water power.
Vehicles are getting more efficient, devices require less power and batteries are holding charges for longer periods of time. However, these advances are doing little to improve the power grid that transmits electricity from all of these various sources to our homes and offices.
Until we undergo a comprehensive upgrade to the entire grid across the country, we are all at risk of being at the mercy of outages that can be annoyingly disruptive as well as deadly. Just look at the increasing amount of power outages as the result of severe weather that has been plaguing the country over the past few years. It seems that outages are becoming more widespread and lasting longer. This means that food is spoiling, batteries are draining, fuel cannot be dispensed and getting money as well as making purchases can be impossible in affected areas.
While the impact of power outages seems to be growing in severity, opportunities to become self-sufficient and not reliant on the power grid are becoming more accessible as well. Wind turbines are small and powerful enough to be incorporated into residential properties. Generators are entering the market, and they do not require fuel to operate. Portable solar panels can be used to power radios, charge phones and even run small appliances. These are just a few examples of tools that can directly
benefit the average consumer if they were to take advantage of these resources.
There are even government credits available in one form or another that give people a financial incentive to incorporate these green technologies into their daily lives. This is something that everyone should consider as a way to become energy independent and avoid the expense, hassle and risk of being left in the dark if the power goes out. It is also not uncommon to hear stories about homeowners and businesses that are able to sell electricity back to local power companies and contribute to the grid instead of always drawing from it.
Cost is still a huge barrier to overcome, especially when considering the expense of converting an entire building to run on renewable energy. However, this process can be completed by taking small and incremental steps over the course of time. Everyone should look at how they can make small adjustments to their home and vehicle in order to become less reliant on an aging an ineffective power grid to supply their daily electricity requirements.
Every small step towards being independent means freedom and escaping the fate of those who are not so lucky. From a survival perspective, being able to draw on your own resources as opposed to relying solely on fuel, coal, a campfire or power from the government is in a far better position than the guy down the street who has no backup plan in place. Try and prioritize providing alternative power for things that you will absolutely need during a crisis. Self-charging radios and flashlights, wind powered heaters or solar powered arrays that can charge batteries are just a few examples of many options that are on the market today.
Enjoying the benefits of the grid is one thing, but relying on it to get you through a disaster is an exercise in futility. Start thinking about how you can get unplugged from the main grid and generate and store electricity now, and you will have more options when things hit the fan and everyone else is in the dark.
The good news is that as you make small investments into alternative sources of energy, your electric bills will get smaller as well. So, you will start to save money as you increase your personal stash of electricity. Over time, you can find yourself in a much better position to have at least basic comforts such as the ability to cook, stay warm and communicate.
Take a closer look at how you can begin to move off the grid now, and you can help to ensure that you have a bright future even if you are in the midst of dark days of uncertainty during a disaster.
