Renner "Off-Grid" House

325 Newsome Mound Road
Weatherford, TX 76085

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My motivation is to reduce my carbon foot print and become Energy independent in the event of a power outage.

The system has increased in size year by year to the point that it produces all our energy needs. We have been disconnected from the grid since 2012 but still have it available for back up and have only switched it back on once (for about a month) during this time period due to a lightning strike.

 

Introduction Video

Renewable energy features

Solar PV

kW 12.8
Installation Date : 2002-present
Installer: I did it all myself.

Equipment

Home built solar tracker
4 each Xantrex inverters total of 20KW
Battery storage 48 volt @ 1050 Ah or 50 kWh

Wind Turbine

Generating capacity 10KW Bergey Wind
Tower home built 100 feet
Owner installed 2007- Present

Solar Hot Water

One solar water heating system for in-floor radiant heating
Owner installed

Retail Electric Provider

Renner Energy (Tri-County Electric Cooperative as backup)

Monitoring system

Outback Power monitor Optics RE
Xantrex monitor
Bogart Engineering Tri-metric 2020

 

Green features:

  • Catchment system for 6,000 gallons of rainwater harvesting
  • Green house with solar heating and heat storage
  • Portable solar generator for power tools and lighting
  • 20,000 BTU air conditioned workshop runs off solar panels

 

Host Comments

Mike Renner (Home Owner)
My motivation is to reduce my carbon foot print and become Energy independent in the event of a power outage. The system has increased in size year by year to the point that it produces all our energy needs. We have been disconnected from the grid since 2012 but still have it available for back up and have only switched it back on once (for about a month) during this time period due to a lightning strike.