When most people think of Amish communities, they picture old-fashioned environments free of modern technology. For the most part, that''s true, but there are a few surprising exceptions. Many Amish families use solar panels to meet their modest electricity needs, Electric Rate reports.
According to Electric Rate, some Amish communities adopted solar as far back as the ''90s.
In addition to wind turbines on churches and barns, Amish homes may also have solar panels on the roofs. These are connected to batteries that power electric lights, water pumps, and even the occasional washing machine, refrigerator, cash register, or e-bike.
Electric Rate explains that Amish communities don''t reject all technology for its own sake. Instead, they consider the impact each type of technology will have on their lifestyle and traditions.
Television doesn''t have a place in the simple Amish lifestyle, and connecting to the power grid to run multiple appliances would threaten the community''s independence and self-reliance.
However, electric lights are another matter, according to Electric Rate. Amish families previously used kerosene lamps or even diesel generators to light their homes. These created major safety issues, like heightened fire risk and toxic fumes.
Solar panels and LED lights were the perfect solutions, Electric Rate says. They''re self-contained, so Amish communities don''t have to rely on the outside power grid or pay a monthly bill. They don''t even have to add wiring to the whole house. Just one or two panels are enough for a whole home since they don''t have many electric appliances. The lights themselves are reliable, efficient, long-lasting, affordable, and safe.
Even better, solar technology is getting cheaper all the time. Ongoing breakthroughs in solar panel design have made them easier to manufacture and more efficient to use, opening up this possibility for even more families.
Solar panels are also gentle on the planet. Unlike burning kerosene or diesel, solar doesn''t produce air pollution that traps heat in our atmosphere. The more households, businesses, and governments adopt solar, the more we cool down the planet.
A year ago I noticed a stark change while in an Indiana Amish community. Solar panels and spinning wind turbines had populated many an Amish roof in the 5 years since I’d last visited.
Later, in an Amish-owned store in another settlement, I viewed an array of technologies designed to harness the wind and sun. Amish, at least in some places, are taking up these technologies designed to latch onto the forces of nature.
A recent article looks at the first Amish household to adopt solar power in the community at Lyndonville, New York (Orleans County). Jonas Miller may be setting a trend for his community, where the church has officially sanctioned the technology. High diesel prices have driven the change to solar, which will be used “to power the lights, cash register and other electrical needs for his general store” in his community of two dozen families.
Not all Amish are agreed on solar, as the article notes. On the one hand solar and wind seem like they’d fit the Amish (or at least the popular perception), being “pure” power sources derived directly from God’s natural abundance.
On the other, the appearance of solar technology just seems a little on the high-tech side. Sleek solar panels still look starkly futuristic and out-of-place attached to 19th-century Amish barns. Perhaps this is why some Amish groups balk at the idea of solar. Also, if a technology is adopted by a higher (less traditional) Amish group, that in and of itself can be enough to make lower groups resist signing on to it.
Do you use any solar technology? The only piece I own, besides an old calculator somewhere, is a little yard lamp, the kind popular among Amish, purchased in an Ohio Amish store. Amish are ahead of the curve here (or at least ahead of my curve).
It will be interesting to see to what degree Amish incorporate solar and wind technology. Maybe one day we’ll observe Amish buggies rolling down the road, plastered with solar panels, or with whirling wind turbines planted on their roofs. Or maybe not.
I recently heard that a number of Amish in the Lancaster County community have begun using regular electric washers (like any English home might have, except powered by the diesel generator). With the widely-used wringer washers (ie, the old Maytag style), the clothes are still pretty wet when you finish. Using a regular washer, the spin cycle forces a lot of that extra water out,…
‘It sure is a hard emotional read. To see forgiveness layed out (sic) in such clinical terms while for us it is just a gut feeling…I was glad to see how you stressed that we also are human and struggle with this issue on a daily basis. The thought came to mind that this generation can not claim credit for our attitude on forgiveness beings…
I just got off the phone with an Amish friend, “Alvin”, from Holmes County. I like to call Alvin, a furniture maker, from time to time, to check up on things in Amish Ohio. The big news? March Madness, or I suppose the Plain equivalent, is apparently heading to Holmes County. I’ve written a number of times about Amish and sports. Sports and games are…
As we close the books on the last day of 2015, it’s always nice to take a look back at the previous 365. Every year has its ups and downs. I hope yours was overall a good one, and that 2016 is only better. Here on the blog, I’ve collected some favorite posts from the previous year. In this case “favorite” means either highly-viewed, highly-commented, or simply ones…
Stephen B writes: While I certainly understand the idea behind Plain-ness, of not calling undue attention to one''s self out of modesty and of not wanting to be too much of this world, it seems to me that as times and fashions change, the Amish haven''t really updated their fashions enough to actually *stay* plain. That is, it was one thing, back when, to wear…
The word “Amish” is getting attached to the events in Lancaster city following an incident in which a man was shot and killed by police. Specifically, some media sources have been framing this as something like “trouble in Amish Country” – but that is a mis-framing. Lancaster city is in the middle of Lancaster County, but it’s hardly “Amish Country”. There are a good number…
I have a couple of outdoor lights, that is about it. But on an interesting note, while I was camping in Bellefonte, PA this past summer I noticed several of the Amish farms did have small solar panels placed around their property kind of out of the way. They did not have the rather large panels you typically see on roof tops.
I am hoping within a year or two to add solar panels here if finances allow. Time will tell. This is also a good area for windmills as the wind is usually blowing in off the prairie. I am all for going more natural with my energy source even if it is considered “high tech”.
Interesting observation Alice, I think Amish aesthetics will push these to less obtrusive locations when possible given sun angles and so forth. Solar panels are kind of ugly (even if you’re not Amish 🙂 which I don’t think gets talked about too much. However that is just one factor in the decision to use them.
Responding to Alice’s comment… Here in Central PA I’ve noticed an uptick in the use of Solar amongst the more “modern” Gray and Black toppers, mostly in Penn’s Valley and further East as well as the use of LED’s on their buggies. Still, many Amish run shops around here mostly use skylights, kerosene lamps and some diesel generators. Still I wouldn’t be surprised If I started seeing solar panels and wind turbines amongst the more “primitive” old order Amish in Big Valley. The way the Amish adopt technology is often surprising. I for one am happy to see “green” technology anywhere it can be used.
The Amish in both Bloomfield and Kalona Iowa have been experimenting with mounting an air compressor on a tower with airplane style blades to generate their air needs. They store the air in large tanks that often are in the 1,000 gallon range. This is one of the most efficient way to run their air motors in their shops and homes. The biggest draw back is the need for frequent maintenance as their is incredible pressure placed on the compressor turning at such a high rate of speed. It is my understanding that this idea originated in one of the Amish communities in IN
Very interesting Lowell, thanks for this info. Your post also reminded me of the gigantic wind turbines in Van Wert County, Western Ohio near the Indiana border. Not the same thing as what you are talking about, but wind power tech on a much larger scale.
I have a weird association with these turbines. I’ve driven past them the past two years while traveling to the Allen County, IN Amish community. Merits of wind technology aside, and going purely on the matter of appearance, personally I don’t think I could ever get used to the sight of these if I lived near such an agglomeration. It’s not just that they interrupt the view–I find them slightly disturbing on a level I can’t quite put a finger on. There’s something ominous about them. Perhaps it is their massive size combined with the fact they move at such speeds but nearly silently (at least in relation to what you’d expect for something so large). But maybe I am just odd.
They are taller than anything in Northwest Ohio: five times taller than the biggest farm silos in Van Wert and Paulding counties and taller than any buildings 80 miles away in Toledo.
In all, 210 wind turbines are dotting the rural landscape along U.S. 30 near the city of Van Wert, and at least 550 more are planned here and in surrounding counties.
About Can amish get solar power
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Can amish get solar power have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Can amish get solar power for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Can amish get solar power featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
