[by Jackie Dragon]
Our good friends Jim and Darren donated their time, intelligence and Solar Panels to Liberty Arising and helped get our recently purchased DC solar pool pump by Sun Pumps up and running! We want to get off the SDGE grid (which we have found is rather complicated) and have received advice that having modular solar is the best idea. In other words, setting up small solar systems all over the property.
Jim and Darren are well accomplished in the plumbing, electrical and solar world and this project was right up their alley. Jim also donated some pretty epic 240 watt panels which are now mounted on the pool deck roof. Thomas and I had a great time helping and learning a few basic principles about solar.
We use a fair amount of energy. The tiered energy systems that SDGE uses here in the back country can push our electric bill into four figures. Though we hope to someday invest in a solar array, these little modular systems help us get closer to realizing our vision. That vision is energy independence and sustainability. It is our hope to be a permaculture demonstration site someday. It is our hope that we can inspire others to live a more communal, resource based lifestyle.
This we could not do without the help of our friends. Remember you can always give us a call or shoot us an email and set up some time to volunteer, or just to say hi. We get by with a little help from our friends...
