Before the start of our project, Deirdre had approached us about an alternative energy system to power the tools on the site, since we would not have hydro hook-up for some time.
What we agreed to was to purchase electricity that she could generate using her system, in the hope is that the consumption cost would be lower than a tank of gas for the generator everyday. The payoffs would be less fossil fuel burning, a quieter work-site as her system is silent, and fewer trips to the gas station to fill up - so financial savings.Her system is a series of deep cell batteries that are charged when she drives home on the week-ends through her vehicles alternator; or a couple of solar panels that are on-site, and if required sooner, with our generator.
The nice things about it is it allows us to the recharge cell-phones and cordless tool batteries and cameras, which we shouldn't connect directly to the gas generator. A quieter site - we are not monks, but it's nice not to have to listen to the generator running when you are only making the occasional cut with the saw and to not have to yell to be heard above the genny. We can play a radio and actually hear it.
The generator we purchased will allow us to run essential services in our home if the power should go out for a prolonged period, so it's something we required and will see future use of. We have had a generator connection wired in at what will be the garage in anticipation of the need, though we are getting used to living in the quiet with no power while we camp out at our site.
