Snow management at OG Foundation. No driveways or paths to shovel, just have to sweep off the panels!
With 1 week to go until spring (doesn't feel like it), we haven't had to fire up the backup generator once this winter or ration energy at all! The 7 panels generate plenty of energy on overcast days; the only time they are down is when it's snowing (and nighttime of course) and once the snow is done, a good sweep is all they need, and they actually generate more energy because of the reflectivity of the snow all around them! Just got about a foot and a half of snow and there's a week of freeze ahead, then spring time!
700W powers lights (all LED), electronics, & water pump. Also runs the fridge, but when freezing outside, I make big ice cubes out of 1/2 gal containers and rotate them into the fridge for refrigeration. And there's a wood stove for heat, you can see the chimney popping up in the middle of the pic. Will likely upgrade to 800W and convert to 24v with added battery storage over the next year.
One thing that we can't currently support is laundry, so laundry gets done in town on bi-weekly supply/errand trips. There will be a solution for this coming, but whether it ends up being a 'standard' appliance or something else is yet to be determined.
Awesome insight about the snow reflection brother, love hearing from sovereigns living off-grid. Nudity solves laundry but may push heating energy cost in that climate lol 👍