Want to live off the grid?

Interested in living off the grid?

Learn about getting off the grid!

Live Off the Grid

Living off the grid implies living self-sufficiently without relying on electricity from the power lines, water from the water pipes, natural gas from the underground gas pipes and telephone services. It is shunning yourself completely from public utilities and creating your own energy. Living off the grid lets you reduce your carbon footprint and avoids reliance on fossil fuels and utility companies. People around the United States are increasingly shifting towards living peacefully in this manner and yet are not turning into hippies! These ‘off gridders’ generate their own electricity, get water from a well and might even heat their homes with a wood stove. Some homeowners live partially off the grid having their own electricity sources and cutting of phone connections but rely on city water and sewage. While others choose to remain completely off grid and yet enjoy the luxury of a modern life.
With the advancement in technology and increased globalization, we have become slaves to our materialistic items: designer clothes, electronic gadgets, junk food, our cars and houses. We are caught up in this vicious cycle and are desperately trying to make ends meet.  With our mailboxes flooded with white envelopes from utility companies, it is time to think about moving into the open, creating sustainable energy and turning carbon neutral.
The idea that living off the grid is not easy at all is a myth. You do not have to get rid of all those in your life that you have become so deeply accustomed to. To live off the grid does not mean getting used to no television, no refrigeration, no kitchen appliances, no washing machine, no hair driers, no PDAs, no coffee makers and no other electronic appliances.
Living off the grid is an investment in a much simpler lifestyle. No doubt all the renewable energy sources are free; sunshine, wind, biomass, but they have to be harnessed before using. Although initially these investments may appear huge but in the long run are purely beneficial. For electricity, you have to buy wind turbines or solar-electric panels. Even with solar and wind power, you’ll still need to limit your use of electricity. With a cistern system, in periods of little rain you might need to let the dishes pile up for a couple of days or limit your toilet flushes. Conserving energy is one of the best ways to deal with your energy needs.
There are other issues too that need to be considered such as garbage pickup readily solved by recycling and composting. You will have to grow your own vegetables and raise some chickens and goats for milk and eggs. You should try and avoid packaged foods because that will greatly reduce the amount of paper and plastic waste that needs to be recycled. The organic food waste and even some paper products can be composted and fed back into the soil.