We can have enough food for our needs and to share and we can have the equipment to deal with power outages and failures of customary services. We can be prepared to the extent that we do not depend on outside services for our needs moment by moment. I have been amazed to watch civilized city dwellers get into miserable condition and have to leave their homes because a storm knocks power out for 2 or 3 days. But today we cannot just connect a solar electric system to an existing U.S. grid powered home that typically consumes 1000 to several thousand kilowatt hours a month. Converting an existing utility powered home to solar generated electricity requires first, redesigning radical energy conservation into the whole building.
Some folks build a solar electric system for just a selected room or a few circuits and appliances.
Then as they slowly start to upgrade appliances and energy usage of the whole house, a solar electric system can eventually take over more or all of the power needs. This is similar to the method we recommend on our page for folks whose electric bill is too high. Other folks are committed enough to build from the ground up, planning a whole house that doesn't need much energy to be comfortable and safe. This is what Backwoods Solar can best help with.