SUBHEAD: We're now into Winter, but at least we're heading into increasing light as we enter the New Year.
By Juan Wilson on 24 December 2018 for Island Breath -
(https://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-darkest-hour.html)
Image above: Image of light through the trees in winter. From (https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/8-things-know-about-winter-solstice).
Linda and I have been off the KIUC grid for over five years now. The first few winters (beginning about this time of year) we were so low on stored battery energy from our solar panels that we were reduced to playing chess at night by candlelight once the sun went down.
Over the least several years we've added panels, new batteries and what ever else was necessary to get through the winter. We now can do it.
But that means careful shepherding of the use of power through the day and evening so that there is still some juice left after finishing dinner and watching some news and some online entertainment to get through the dark nights of winter.
To me, from my experience sailing in the Great South Bay and Long Island Sound, living with solar energy is like sailing a boat. You have to be on watch 24/7. With a boat it's about the wind - as it relates to strength and direction.
With solar panels it relates to the charge and depth the batteries. We are finally at the point where we can sail through the night.
As we turn from the darkest hour and into the light, heading towards Spring, Linda and I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice, a Blessed New Year, or whatever it is you do in these pivotal days away from the dark.
Hunker down and enjoy the ones you love!
See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Get Off the Grid Now! 8//19/18
Ea O Ka Aina: Christmas Story 12/25/17
Ea O Ka Aina: Mistakes to avoid going off-grid 1/9/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Failing to live Off-Grid 1/3/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Living off-grid becoming illegal 11/7/15
Ea O Ka Aina: Off Grid living is illegal 1/26/15
Ea O Ka Aina: Kicking the KIUC habit 5/1/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaii utilities fighting customers 1/6/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Off-grid handcrafted life 12/5/13
Ea O Ka Aina: KIUC afraid of residential PV 10/8/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Fracking Hawaii 1/31/13
Ea O Ka Aina: And to All a Good Night 12/22/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Island Breath is off the Grid 7/6/12
Ea O Ka Aina: A Christmas Carol 2011 12/26/11
Ea O Ka Aina: Stop War for Christmas 12/24/11
Ea O Ka Aina: All I Want for Xmas Is the Truth 12/23/10
Ea O Ka Aina: A Doomer's Christmas Carol 12/24/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Merry Christmas 2009 12/24/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Blue Christmas 12/21/09
Ea O Ka Aina: A Christmas Wish 12/16/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Poor Rich People at Xmas 12/24/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Off-Grid Night Lighting 8/14/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Rural, not Suburban, Kauai 4/2/09
Island Breath: Solar Energy - A case study 5/12/04
.
By Juan Wilson on 24 December 2018 for Island Breath -
(https://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-darkest-hour.html)
Image above: Image of light through the trees in winter. From (https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/8-things-know-about-winter-solstice).
Linda and I have been off the KIUC grid for over five years now. The first few winters (beginning about this time of year) we were so low on stored battery energy from our solar panels that we were reduced to playing chess at night by candlelight once the sun went down.
Over the least several years we've added panels, new batteries and what ever else was necessary to get through the winter. We now can do it.
But that means careful shepherding of the use of power through the day and evening so that there is still some juice left after finishing dinner and watching some news and some online entertainment to get through the dark nights of winter.
To me, from my experience sailing in the Great South Bay and Long Island Sound, living with solar energy is like sailing a boat. You have to be on watch 24/7. With a boat it's about the wind - as it relates to strength and direction.
With solar panels it relates to the charge and depth the batteries. We are finally at the point where we can sail through the night.
As we turn from the darkest hour and into the light, heading towards Spring, Linda and I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice, a Blessed New Year, or whatever it is you do in these pivotal days away from the dark.
Hunker down and enjoy the ones you love!
See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Get Off the Grid Now! 8//19/18
Ea O Ka Aina: Christmas Story 12/25/17
Ea O Ka Aina: Mistakes to avoid going off-grid 1/9/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Failing to live Off-Grid 1/3/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Living off-grid becoming illegal 11/7/15
Ea O Ka Aina: Off Grid living is illegal 1/26/15
Ea O Ka Aina: Kicking the KIUC habit 5/1/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaii utilities fighting customers 1/6/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Off-grid handcrafted life 12/5/13
Ea O Ka Aina: KIUC afraid of residential PV 10/8/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Fracking Hawaii 1/31/13
Ea O Ka Aina: And to All a Good Night 12/22/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Island Breath is off the Grid 7/6/12
Ea O Ka Aina: A Christmas Carol 2011 12/26/11
Ea O Ka Aina: Stop War for Christmas 12/24/11
Ea O Ka Aina: All I Want for Xmas Is the Truth 12/23/10
Ea O Ka Aina: A Doomer's Christmas Carol 12/24/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Merry Christmas 2009 12/24/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Blue Christmas 12/21/09
Ea O Ka Aina: A Christmas Wish 12/16/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Poor Rich People at Xmas 12/24/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Off-Grid Night Lighting 8/14/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Rural, not Suburban, Kauai 4/2/09
Island Breath: Solar Energy - A case study 5/12/04
.
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