Energy Suggestions for going off the Grid in a city

This is our situation: we are looking into how we can go off the local ultility company. We have 2 story buildings and in the near future, we are looking into upgrading the roofs which are not flat. I have looked into Tiny houses and have seen on-demand water heaters, so any suggestions there? Looking into some other form of refrigerator, that isn't using local ulitities, other forms of providing light and energy for stove and computers.
I have a patio, in front of my apartment, that gets Southern exposure and a lot of sun: so are there any kind of solar systems, that can be placed on the ground, to gather electricity? I don't think, putting any solar units on roofs, that will need to be upgraded sometime in the future, would be an answer for us at this time.
Any suggestions, would be greatly appreciated.

 

Ok, to summarize:
get yourself a "Killawatt" meter
P3 International Kill A Watt EZ Meter-P4460 - The Home Depot
one of several sources. Consider Amazon also, SM gets a nibble of all sales made via the site.
Find out what each appliance energy or wattage is?
then we can go from here?

Just to through out, some numbers: My electricity bill ranges about $25 to $30 a month, so about $1 dollar a day (240 KWh a month or less). I have an energy efficient Computer, then an energy efficient battery: to protect from spikes. The stove is electric and I never turn the fan on in summer and in winter, just turn on the electric heat (thermostat to 50-55) on for about 1 hour in AM and PM (on very cold days), just to take the chill off. It is surprising how turning on the heat to 50, really doesn't raise my electric bill. Some of the other members, are energy hogs, so it would be good for them, to try using less energy and it might come to that in the near future.
Any other quick fixes, knowing a little more about our situation?
We are in New Mexico and we have seasons, ranging from 80+ degrees in summer and rarely gets below 25 degrees in winter. If it snows, it is just for a day and then it melts away.
We are looking into our alternatives regarding getting off the local electric power supplier.

 

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I think after you do the numbers you will find its cheaper to stay on the grid. Having said that..... if your goal is to not be dependant on the grid and you have the spare cash then there is alot you can do. I just depends mostly on your budget and what you are trying to achieve

 

Yes, 7 years for me, and you have the upfront costs so you're losing out on your interest dollars, which for me is around 5% now.

Rancher

 

welcome to the forum and there a lot of good people on the forum here to help with your ideas

 

Big FAIL , Apartments & multi folks who use way to much & don't GAF .
Cable Dream !! Sorry .
4th one today !!
Im grid-tied & off also .
I do have showers every day , Your dream of Off grid for an Apartment is lots of condemned stinky folks . .
Learn "Wall warts " LED over Plasma TV's , You have a huge learning curve & like I say Im Grid-tie at 2-8 KW /month with more toys ya can feed.

Sorry , but true
Sloth

 

Thank you all for your input, you have probably saved me a lot of time and expense.
Thank you all again, really appreciate it.
It was a reality moment.
Rachel

 

MS R
I know ,
It knocked the crap out of me also .
BUT !!!
RE is a cost one bears , while the grid is cost spread all over .
One can-NOT absorb , but to build on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think outhouse to toilet to bidet / your outhouse money while bidet is what all use.

OK , But true !

Sloth
No lies

 

Thank Sloth,
I have been learning a lot about the grid, smart phones etc. I am leaning more and more, to maybe getting some little bit of land and just go off the grid or find a community. Just being open, to different possibilities.

 

It will take time , to learn POWER , buy a Kill-a-watt for under 20 bucks & see who uses WHAT ! or WATT !!
Ms R , You will learn from the start , ground level , after that , & you'll know what is sucking power (DO-NOT bypass wall warts )
Then you will see the power consumption & know in your mind quick calculations +.

Sloth

 

I totally agree with you regarding GMO. Regarding solar power, I have seen companies such as Solar City work successfully with the Co-op management or homeowner associations, and offer a substantial reduction in energy bills .