UPDATED: Barely off The Grid

I'm taking some minor steps to get off the grid. There's only so much I can do in a loft w/no balcony, and minimal $$$.

Here are some products I've gotten to help:


Sun Jar:  Powered by the sun, glows blue when all other lights are out. Great night light. I use it for my dog when he's alone at night. UPDATE: I rarely use these anymore. They were fun for the first couple of years.


Crank flash lights: haven't received them, but have ordered a set of these babies. They are hand crank flash lights w/a radio and a USB out port. You can charge your iPod using these hand cranks. If the power were to go out, I could charge and listen to my iPod forever! I doubt you could charge much more than that off this unit, but I will let you know. UPDATE: I still have these. One in my office and the other at home. The crank is very small, so it was never easy to charge any devices. They still work as a basic radio and flashlight combo.
Solar battery recharger. I've just started using this on AA and now D batteries. It takes some solid sun time, but it does work. It charges slower than your current battery chargers, which is a good thing. The faster a unit charges the battery, the less life it's expected to have. Thus, I'm investing in those expensive batteries.

I will post any new items I come across to help us get off the grid. We should all be finding ways to get off the grid. Should you own your own home w/land, count yourself lucky on all the ways it can be done. Research some of them.  UPDATE: This thing never worked. Bought a wall charger unit instead.

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