Can You Manage Living Off Grid in the Suburbs?
It’s possible, but it depends upon how much space you have, as well as your local laws and regulations.
Your own water supply in the suburbs is particularly difficult – consider a well, a septic tank, rainwater storage tanks.
Electricity is easier – solar panels take up existing roof space so that’s not normally a problem, and the batteries and other equipment don’t take up a great deal of space. It can be difficult to set up a wind turbine in a suburban back yard!
There are people who are living off grid in the suburbs, but they tend in general to use propane instead of or in addition to alternative energy. This is neither sustainable nor eco-friendly.
But you can certainly
- Add passive design features to your home to decrease heating and cooling requirements (roof overhangs, insulation, shutters, trees etc.) (see Passive Design
- practice energy conservation
- install some alternative energy such as solar panels (see Electricity)
- run at least some of your home’s energy from these panels
Although you won’t be totally living off grid, you’ll certainly
- Reduce your dependence on utility companies
- Reduce your environmental footprint by using fewer fossil fuels
- Be covered for emergencies such as power outages.
I’ll end this series on living off grid with a wonderful quote from the Canadian couple whose example I’ve used. I think this sums it up nicely.
I’ve spent the last two decades upgrading and fine-tuning our home’s energy system in my quest to improve its efficiency and reduce our footprint on the planet. But back when we decided to go off the grid, much of the technology was still in its infancy. I am amazed at the variety and quality of equipment on the market today and how quickly it continues to improve. For most homeowners this equipment can be installed by a dealer and function in the background with only a modest amount of attention — unless you’re like me, and can’t resist the urge to tinker.
Not only is choosing renewable energy easier today than it was two decades ago, there are even better reasons to do it. As society better understands the true costs and environmental impacts of nuclear power, tar sands, coal and other fossil fuels, powering your home from renewable sources (whether on or off grid) is not only good for the planet and your pocketbook, it’s good for your peace of mind as well.
I think the Dervaes family in Pasadena, California pretty much lives off the grid even though they’ve gotten lots of hisses lately for their trademark of “Urban Homesteading”.
Clare, it sees that the off grid movement is gaining steam and more people want to be free of energy sources and providers and do the work themselves.
Scott Sylvan Bell
Now go implement!
It seems as though it would be pretty difficult to live completely off the grid in the suburbs.
Cherie Miranda
As you say Clare , it is getting easier to find equipment for having a go at living off grid . More devices designed for 12 / 24 volt operation , plus better designed Inverters .
One thing that your blog has convinced me of is we don’t have to have a ton of money to start living off the grid. If we just start somewhere with even just one small step, we’re making progress.
Michael
As always Clare, you point out ways we can become better at caring for each other and our planet.
Clare, recently I have found that a “switch” went off in my brain, not so much a concious decision…sort of a cummulative effect of reading your blog. I just suddenly refused to accept plastic bags or bottled water…and started gently encouraging others to do the same…
Sonya Lenzo
Wow Sonya, that’s SO excellent!
I’m absolutely delighted!
Thank you!
There are many little things that we can do to improve our homes so they are more eco-fiendly and spend less energy. Thanks for the reminder and the tips you always share.
Clare,
I think the Canadian couple’s quote provides a powerful clue: “I have spent the last 2 decades upgrading…”
The take-home point being you don’t have to be up and fully functional right out of the gate. You can do a little at a time, slowly but methodically reducing your personal footprint.
This makes great sense.
Dennis
Hi Green Goddess,
I like the idea and the concept at least of the possibility of setting up your home and lifestyle to live off of the grid in the suburbs. But it just seems so often in modern culture, at least here in the States that when subdivisions are created and built that when a couple purchases their home together that the Housing Development has you tied into their Home Owners Association and rules for the next 20 years. I find it very frustrating and antithetical to classic promise that our home is to be OUR castle where we determine what is there.
April Braswell, MH