Why We Do This

Many factors validate what we are trying to accomplish with 1 Block Off the Grid community and our long-term vision. Which is primarily accelerated the nation’s conversion to renewable energy solutions and a sustainable way of life. This is not granola thinking. Let’s look at two good reasons to go solar today.

Reason #1: Energy prices will increase over time. Every year your electrical bill goes up, over the past 30 years electricity rates have increases 4-7% per year. PG&E recently announced another 6.5% rate increase in San Francisco. With the rapid increase in oil and natural gas prices, “dirty electricity” is getting very expensive. The cleaner options to produce electricity (wind, solar, geothermal and tidal) are more attractive but are still costly and require new types of capital investments. Eventually these costs are passed onto the consumers, us. So by getting your very own solar system you are guaranteed access to a ‘flat rate’ on your energy, regardless of how much the market fluctuates.

Reason #2: Our individual electrical energy needs will increase over time. This will happen mostly through a shift in demand from fossil and natural fuel to electrical with plug in hybrid cars, electrical scooters, stoves, etc. It makes sense to think in terms of “energy as a built-in function of a house”. We believe that in a near future, houses will come equipped with some sort of “energy generation functionality” as a standard item as you would have a chimney, plumbing or a water heater. An independent energy generation capability that relieves a buildings’ overall energy needs and allows us to ‘unload’ the grid during peak hours is a good idea. The Sun is widely available, predictable,
consistent and free. Is there for us to use.

Many people shy away at the perceived cost of solar. Let’s put this in perspective. We’ll spend $20K, $30K or even $40K+ on a car that we’ll keep for 4-5 years and depreciate 50-75% over that period. But if we were to put that same money (or a fraction of it) against a solar system on our roofs which will last 25 to 35 years, we’ll get most of our electricity for free. But the best part: we’ll get closer to energy independence, we get to have a true impact on the health of our earth, and very likely on our whole way of life.

Bring 1BOG to your city
Don’t see your city on the list? Want your city to be next to get a 1BOG Solar Challenge? Send us an email. We’d love to hear from you.

Ways you can support 1BOG
You can help us spread the word by adding our logo onto your site, email your friends and neighbors, mention this effort on your social network, post on your community forum, help us spread the word!

* Fine print - We don’t mean literally off-the-grid, nor do we mean literally a city block. Even homes with solar power remain connected to the grid. We want to help enough of our neighbors move to solar to add up to the electricity demands of a typical city block. We estimate an average block to require a total of 200 KW of solar energy production - so that’s our goal! If that group of houses happen to be on the same block, even better!