Off grid living is getting more and more popular — unconnected to conventional power sources, and to many other common utilities and services.
That might sound a little strange, but living off grid gives you the ability to take control of your own life, and to do things your own way. In return, you have to be willing to be responsible for managing your power sources and all the other things that you usually pay someone else to do. If this sounds interesting to you, you might be a good candidate for life off the grid.
As technologies improve, it gets steadily cheaper to disconnect from the usual power grid and go your own way. However, open rural spaces are disappearing, which have long been the favorite places of people who want to do this. This has resulted in more people coming up with ways to live this way without needing to move to a remote location. While off grid living in the city is still pretty difficult to do, many people have managed it in smaller communities and in lightly populated rural areas.
Solar and wind power are the two most popular options for people who want to go off the grid. However, they may not work out well, depending on the location of your home. If you live in an area that is shaded, or that is far enough north not to receive much direct sunlight, solar power may not be for you. Likewise, to take advantage of wind power, you’ll need to live in a place that has relatively constant, low to medium speed winds. While your area might be windy, if it only picks up in the occasional storm, that will damage your turbines, not produce more power.
Look at the available options for your area, then see what your budget is, and how much of a system you can buy for that amount of money. Remember to factor in a backup generator and fuel in case of an emergency, too. Batteries are the most expensive part of your system, but they control what you can store. Remember, when you’re off the grid, there’s no fallback other than what you can provide. On the other hand, when the power in your area goes out, you’ll be able to keep on going.
The expense of going off grid can be reduced, allowing you to buy more with less money. You’ll save on power in the long run, of course, but it takes a long time for most systems to pay off. That’s why there are federal and state tax credits for the expense of your off grid setup. They can help a great deal for most people, and could put off grid living within reach. Just make sure you do your research first, and think hard about whether this is for you. Off grid homes offer a lot of freedom, but also require a certain amount of responsibility.
