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Indeed, though mind that 5000 is high end for actual cost, but a little fairer when you factor in red tape, taxes, fuel, etc.

Most importantly, though:
http://www.ases.org/2012/07/pv-generation-potential-for-april/

For 2011, the max monthly average output in the US was 165kWh / kW rated. That means the average power of 2 kW of photovoltaic would not exceed 500W. So photovoltaics are still over twice as much by your estimate... I would be curious what a PV 'plant' would come to, once you factored in storage and over-capacity for winter, etc.

BS! People have been building off the grid since the beginning of civilization. Only those who do it today have electricity. Offgridders use various sources of alternative energy including geothermal, solar, wind, and microhydro along with others.

producing your own needs for electricity is great
but its a VERY SMALL amount of the world's total energy consumption.

Today off grid applications are small but it can easily be expanded. Solar, wind, and other systems can quickly be added. Solar panels can be placed of roofs for instance. Farmers can erect, or have erected, wind gennies on towers. They don't take up much space and they'll create a new source of income for farmers.

But the first thing offgridders do though is to reduce energy use, conserve electricity. Instead of using 75 watt incandescent lights, they'll use 15 watt CFLs or LEDs under 10 watts. For hot water, tankless instant on water heaters are more efficient. Solar hot water heater systems can bee used themselves, or can preheat water for instant on heaters. Passive solar designs can reduce any need for heating and cooling of indoor space, and with insulation with high R values heating and cooling can be eliminated. But even if heating is needed or wanted geothermal heating can be used. And by reversing the system when hot it can cool space as well.

There are many things that can be done to reduce energy consumed.

Falcon

independence

Agreed!!!

with the next goal as cleaner fuels and energy production methods.

We have those now, though more research needs to be done to increase efficiency and storage.

Presently, plug-in vehicles just mean the burning coal or oil elsewhere.

It may be that way now but if the electricity is produced by renewable resources it doesn't have to remain that way. I'm not sure if it was in "Homepower" or "Solar Today" but someone had written how they recharge their EV with energy generated by a solar or hybrid system.

Falcon

Wind genies are generally not very helpful - bottle genies give wishes but wind genies almost never do. Wind genies are also less amenable to being cited you could end up having copyright issues and as many people know the RIAA employ wind genies for magical purposes.

Gosh, I got a kick out of that. I wish I came up with it, "wind genies", but I first came across it in "Home Power", "Solar Today", or another such magazine several years ago. I've been using it on /. for years.

Falcon

This is one I wouldn't mind visiting and has some similarities to what you describe: http://www.stockton.edu/~hossayp/greenhome/

The tours are listed here... I haven't bothered to search for the 2006 listing yet: http://www.ases.org/tour/2005_tour/listings.htm

And of course, there's always: http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/

This is a myth ... American Solar Energy Society FAQ on energy payback.

Oh? Why not?