Key Steps To Planning Your Life Living Off Grid
To gain true independence from utility companies, and reduce your impact on the planet, then you’ll want to invest in a set-up for living off grid similar to the one I’ve been describing in the last few blogs.
Planning ahead for living off grid is hugely important.
For example, setting up your house with passive design features to require less energy to heat and cool it is a big part of setting yourself up for living off grid.
Be aware that living off grid is not something you can do instantly (well, I suppose you could if you had a lot of money to invest in it all at once).
Alternative energy has high capital costs – solar panels and wind turbines are not cheap to buy. But once they are purchased, you no longer pay monthly utility bills. Many people like this concept, especially for retirement, so they will not be at the mercy of the utility companies. And they will not suffer in an emergency if there is no power from the grid.
It’s good to have more than one source of renewable energy. Depending upon where you live, your solar panels might not provide sufficient power for your needs – particularly in winter due to less sun. So a wind turbine is a valuable backup. And multi-function appliances – such as a cookstove or other appliance which not only heats your home but also your water and cooks your food too – are a great idea.
Living off grid means changing your lifestyle – for example, not just running the clothes dryer or air conditioning without thought. Alternative energy is wonderful, but you need a lot of it, to support our day-to-day energy-guzzling lives. You need to be aware of the energy hogs, and adapt accordingly.
Finding appliances which don’t use a lot of energy is also important. The less energy individual appliances use, the more your alternative energy will support. Cooking in ways that don’t also heat your home in summer is great – why expend energy to cool your house after cooking? Changing to an inexpensive induction cooker is an easy way to do this. So is changing to LED lighting.
Living off grid is not rocket science by any means, but in general a well-planned strategy will provide better results than piecemeal actions.
Related Articles
Living Off Grid – Real Life Example
Living off grid – water and electricity
Truly, how easy IS it to live off grid?
Photo credit: microsoft
[…] Planning for Living Off Grid […]
Good advice on living off the grid planning. I’ve even seen in some hobbyist catalogs that they now sell small solar panels you can hook up directly to cooling fans or radios as small ways to try out being solar powered on a small scale. Your blog definitely makes me want to start trying it.
Michael
Love the new look of your site Clare. Living off the grid is definitely a goal. I think if people changed just one habit every couple of weeks we would all move towards a better place.
I would think that a comprehensive, well thought out plan is a necessary first step. Without it, I can see that a great deal of money could be wasted.
Dennis
I also am encouraging friends by doing things like purchasing things for them to use to live in a more “eco-friendly” way….I think these kinds o fgifts for birthday or Christmas show a concern for friends AND the environment!
Sonya Lenzo
Living off the grid is absolutely something that requires massive planning. Good tips!
Cherie Miranda
In the modern life it is very necessary to opt off the grid living. Living off the grid is not for everyone, although the off grid life contains elements everyone should strive for. We can’t be sure how long our non-renewable resources will remain resources.
Living Off grid
Hi Green Goddess,
Thank you for the really practical helpful reminder to think in terms of having more than 1 source of renewable energy in mind when you are creating and fine-tuning your lifestyle plan. That is a very practical and healthy way to approach this.
April Braswell, MH
[…] Next: Tips for the ultimate lifestyle – living off grid! […]
[…] Want to live off grid? (or at least, reduce your dependence). Here’s how. […]