We have begun the journey to free ourselves from dependence on Eskom! He Who Can Fix Anything took a break from working on cars and rigged up a solar panel to charge two large batteries, connected to an inverter, and we are now running the computer, a desk light, kitchen light, passage light and cellphone charger for nothing! You may scoff and say what about the outlay (we were given the solar panel and have always had the batteries), but aside from that, it's more about not being in the dark when the lights go out, rather than reducing the electricity bill. The next thing to be connected will be the ADSL modem and the portable phone so that we maintain connectivity. The stove runs on gas and we have plenty of spare camping cylinders for gaslight. For hot water we can heat it on the stove and pour it into the camping solar shower bags which we can then hang in the shower - we used them for years when camping and they are as good as any conventional shower.
This is just preparation. I don't think I will go for the shower right now - but it's good to know we will be able to cope if things go awry. If we want to save money, however, the hot water cylinder is the big culprit and that will take more than the few batteries and little inverter we have.
But it's a start, and considering that the entire planet exists on solar energy and it is only humans who have been forced to use fossil fuels and other expensive, non-renewable sources, hopefully more and more people will take themselves off the grid and reconnect with what belongs to us all, a gift from nature.
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