Get off of the grid.
http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp
http://donkey32.proboards.com/
(more on rocket stove mass heaters)
$1000 Solar Water Heater —Overview
http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/Overview.htm
(good learning tool for the system behind the next link)
$2K Solar Space + Water Heating — One Simple DIY System
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/DHWplusSpace/Main.htm
As for PV solar power plants, there are sites all over the Net for learning how they work, how to install them and the best components to install. Get a copy of the National Electrical Code. Study it. Study electrical safety. It’s well worth it. A powerful, self-installed system can use as little as about $60 per month, if you get rid of some of the more outrageously hungry appliances and use better equipment for comforts—especially home-built equipment.
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