My husband has been fascinated with the concept of a self-sustaining home since we went to an open house about eight or nine years.  With Y2K looming ahead, everyone was looking for a way to survive if the worst happened.  It didn’t, but my husband was hooked.  The biggest sticking point we have is the extreme costs of using alternative powers.

The green industry has been working long and hard to find ways to bring down the costs and to improve the products at the same time.  There are now solar panels available that won’t cost more than the house you can attach them too.  Mini solar powered accessories are showing up everywhere - even in discounts stores and bulk shopping sites.

Our second sticking point for going solar is that we live under some HUGE trees.  It isn’t the shade, as much as the occasional falling limbs, which have me concerned.  Before I spend a chunk of savings on buying and installing solar panels, I want them to be nearly indestructible.

There is still wind and water.  Every few months, my husband starts plotting about how we could harness the power of the running water from the streams and creeks around our property.  A good breeze will get him off on his windmill tangent. 

I like the idea of having an alternative power source, even if it is just an emergency back up.  Until it becomes more readily available (and more designed for a modest checkbook), I’m afraid my Don Quixote will have to wait.