Toward Energy Self-Sufficiency In Some Surprisingly Simple Steps

Also, there are tax incentives to consider, something that neither Cindy nor Bob Evarts was aware of.

Tax incentives help save money for those considering alternative energy sources. The federal government offers 30 percent of the cost of installation, up to $2,000, for both solar water heaters and photovoltaic solar electricity systems. These incentives go away at the end of the year unless Congress extends them.

Many states and localities offer incentives, too. (There's a searchable database of these incentives at http://www.dsireusa.org.) In the Washington area, Maryland leads the pack. It already offers up to $2,000 for solar water heaters and $3,000 for solar electricity. As of July 1, the state will also offer grants to homeowners for solar, geothermal and wind systems. Virginia and West Virginia don't offer such incentives. The District's Department of the Environment will be posting details of its Renewable Energy Demonstration Program in July on its Web site, http://www.ddoe.dc.gov. Homeowners can submit a proposal for funding to implement a renewable and replicable energy system.

Systems that use sun or wind to produce energy will take you at least partially off the grid.

· Solar. A photovoltaic system is expensive but an excellent way to go fairly far off the grid. Good, unobstructed southern sun is necessary for the system to work well. The electricity you generate from the sun powers anything in the house.

Advantages: Clean and, once paid off, an investment that keeps on producing. If you make more energy with the sun than you need, it can go into the utility grid, spinning your meter backward and generating a credit.

Disadvantages: Expensive: It would cost $40,000 to $60,000 to take an average American house completely off the grid with solar. The same size house with a double-wall system would cost $30,000 to $40,000. Panels are still a bit bulky.

· Wind. Wind energy has improved dramatically in the past few years. Systems are now quiet, and if the wind blows at more than 8 miles per hour, it creates energy that can be used for anything that requires electricity in your home, including heating or cooling.

Advantages: Takes your system 20 to 30 percent off the grid when there is a good wind. If you produce more energy than you need, it goes into the utility grid, spinning your meter backward and generating a credit.

Disadvantages: No wind, no energy. There are often ordinances on tower height.