Solar Energy Home Kit

On a forum where I have this blog listed I was asked the following question:

I want to build a cabin but most of all I am concerned about the power source. What is the most cost efficient. The only electrical appliances I will need are a refrigerator and TV. Can I use a battery that has an outlet? Is there such a thing? What size solar power project would I Need.

So, I did a little research and here's what I found. The first think to keep in mind is that "Going Green" is initially expensive. In the long run, you will end up paying for your initial investment. With that in mind, I found this great kit:

http://www.solarhome.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=902

Detailed Description: This Small Solar Power System produces about 1.0 kWh to 1.5 kWh (usable) on a sunny day. It will run high efficiency lighting, 19" TV/VCR, stereo, laptop computer, blender, and DC submersible and pressurized water pump. While it's best to have a system designed for your specific situation, this small solar power system for a remote home works for many applications.

It runs for $3499.99. I suppose that once you have the basic setup, you can upgrade to accommodate more appliances. So based on the information above, I would guess that it would be about $7000 to $8000 to have a setup that would run a refrigerator, maybe less depending on the size of the refrigerator.

I will research the wind option and post something shortly. This option is a little more limited as it has to be in a location where there is constant wind flow.

Happy Building!