The Cost of Living Off the Grid Will Free Your Spirit and Wallet
Have you ever thought about living a life where you can sustain yourself? According to Home Power Magazine, more than 250,000 people in the United States live off the grid or on self-consumption, and the number is constantly increasing each year. In addition, consulting firm Accenture predicts that 12% of American households and 11% of European households will be “Living Off the Grid” by 2035.
Make Smart Financial Decisions With the Billry Store.
So why is the trend of ' living off the grid ' increasing and what is the meaning of this?
Energy consumption
The consumption of energy in living off the grid means utilities such as gas, electricity and heating are not required. However, these same utilities are often used most because people certainly depend on the resources that public services provide to survive. People living off the grid have to produce their own electricity resources, energy and other sources through the use of ecological and renewable sources. Therefore, we can say that living off-grid requires on-site power source, water source, filtration, and generators.
The Lifestyle
This type of lifestyle sounds quite challenging and complicated, but there are two main reasons for the growth of the trend. The first reason is financial. If it is done right, off-grid living saves money on utilities. For example, to power an average household, it would cost around $5,000. You can be broke by just paying for maintenance. However, with the installation of solar PV technology, priced from $3,000- $5,000, you can get quick payback and supplemented energy. So, it is safe to say that living off-grid is an efficient way to cut utility bills and save on bills.
Electricity Use
Reduce your electricity use. Since you will be using electricity off-grid, it is important that you take steps to ensure that you limit its use. To reduce the cost, replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. This small change can reduce electricity use to 75%. Also, turn off lights, TV, and other appliances when you're not using them. You can buy energy saving bulbs at local stores like Walmart, Target, Lowes or Home Depot and they are not that expensive.
Environmental Responsibility
The second reason is to be environmentally responsible. Today's energy is wasteful and inefficient. People who care about the environment would think that living off the grid is an attractive lifestyle. There are several other reasons that individuals are living off the grid and these include freedom, eco-friendliness and location. Living a self-consuming lifestyle has several merits and good reasons, but there are also difficulties.
It can be more expensive and also harmful to the environment. ‘living off the grid’ requires equipment such as generators, fuel, filtration system, and necessary supplies. If this equipment is made in a non-ecological way, it can be fatal to the local environment. For example, if the generator is operated by diesel, the greenhouse emissions that can be produced would greatly impact climate change and the deterioration of human health in the local area.
Learning the System
Self-consumption is an efficient and ecological way of life. More and more people are considering adapting 'living off the grid' to make a change in their lifestyle. But also, it carries some difficulties and must be done in a correct way to prevent side effects. Below are some things you should consider. You should be willing to adapt to the new ecological skills learned. You should also check your system to see its working potential.
Get an OHM meter
An “Ohm” meter would be instrumental in helping you to determine this and diagnose any energy problems. Regardless of how your new system is installed and designed, you will surely have problems. And, you won’t be able to contact the power or utility company because you are going to be the power company with your living off the grid choice. You may be able to contact the installer and designer, but you may not have immediate help. Therefore, it is best that you learn your own system. You can save a lot of money, time and the hassle by getting a $10 “Ohm Meter,” which when used will allow you to find quick solutions.
To begin with, the house obtains the energy it needs through solar panels that provide enough for illumination or lighting up your house and connect to the Internet and operate the electrical appliances needed. If you do not have ventilation or a refrigerator for your house, how do you refrigerate the food? Well, with ice, either provided by the neighbors. Or, it is possible to put water in containers during the winter and, when it freezes, you would store it in a basement where the insulation is better. Thus, you would be able to refrigerate food well into July. To heat a home in freezing winters, another example is to take advantage of a wood stove that you have built and use it for cooking and heating the home environment.
Assume Flexibility
It is important to reduce how you use electricity when the days are windless or cloudy. You may have to use your computer less and turn on fewer lights in your home. You may also have to put away your laundry for another day. You may also have to put off certain other tasks or pleasures for another day when the weather is better. While you may be able to operate a generator during these days, it will be loud and the use of fossil fuels is only going to damage and pollute the environment and air around you. When the weather is cloudy, you can do other tasks around the house that does not require electricity.
Solar Energy System
Install a solar energy system. ‘Living off the grid’ requires developing electrical independence for your home. The best option is to adapt your house with solar panels. Check with a solar installation company in your area to get a better idea of how you can connect your home with this type of system. You would have to get the total cost of an average solar power system, including panels, battery, a replacement generator, and professional installation.
Backup Power System
Consider installing a backup power system. A backup system can complement solar panels, so they can be very useful on cloudy days.
If you live near a river or stream, you can install a hydroelectric turbine as a backup system. Otherwise, you can install a wind turbine near the house. Talk to a renewable energy company in your area to learn about your options and, if desired, have a backup system installed. Check the prices of wind turbines. Micro hydroelectric turbines have very varied prices. Do a search for the costs in your country, taking into account that the large ones can produce more energy.
Save on water
Water Well
Depending on where you live, if in a rural area, you can also install water well. Since you will not be connected to the central water system, you will have to use the water well. The cost of installation varies from country to country, so be sure to do a search.
Install Septic Tank
You also have the option of installing a septic tank, which will collect your wastewater instead of the usual sewer system. The installation cost for a septic tank will vary. It is best to do your own inquiry to find viable options. You have to service the septic tank by periodically emptying it using a truck that is outfitted with a vacuum pump.
Gray Water System
For 'living off the grid', have a gray water system installed. A gray water system treats the water used by dishwashers, sinks, showers and bathrooms so that it can be reused. While this option is less necessary than a septic tank or water well, this system can extend the life of the well by using water that has already been pumped to the surface. The recycled gray water can be used for bathing or for irrigation.
Reducing waste
It is important to reduce your waste. When ‘living off the grid’, you must carefully monitor and maintain your consumption of electricity, food and water. The more precious resources you use, the more you depend on others.
Some simple ways to reduce waste are:
Take short showers and don't water the lawn.
Unplug appliances when you're not using them.
Turn off the lights when leaving a room.
Learn to use the remains. Build a compost pile to use up the rest of your unused food.
Start a vegetable garden
If you want to ‘live off the grid’, one way to do so is to grow your own garden and get food from there. This is the ideal way for surviving off the grid. You should eat what you grow instead of depending on other farmers to plant your food and buy it from the local grocery store. Some farmers use chemicals and harmful fertilizers. This is neither good for your health or the environment. While it may take time and effort to plant a garden with fruits and vegetables, it will be well worth the effort.
HOusing options
Buying Off the Grid Home
Buy an existing home. There are many houses in isolated rural areas that are already off-grid or can be easily converted. Review property listings online. Contact real estate agencies to inquire about houses that appeal to you. Visit some properties to get an idea of what they have to offer and how easy it could be to live off-grid in them. You may want to live off-grid in a small house, caravan, cabin, or similar location.
Build Your Home
Build a house from scratch. By their nature, country houses made to measure will undoubtedly satisfy your needs. Today, many companies specialize in building very small houses or living off-grid properties. Contact a home contractor with experience in this type of property and inform them of your preferences and ideas. While it may cost you thousands to build a home from scratch, in the end, it will be cost efficient. Expect to spend at least $100,000 or more to build an off grid home.
Cheap Land
Once you know the area where you want to establish your home off-grid, do a search online and in the local newspaper for auction dates. You can also contact real estate agencies to do the search for you. Finding a piece of land that is reasonably priced and the correct size for your project can take months and even years. However, be patient and you will find land in the area of your choice. Buying cheap land will cut down the cost of building an off the grid home from scratch.
Your savings
Your off-grid lifestyle will be more secure if you can afford upgrades, repairs, and other things you may need and take care of your personal monthly expenses. To make sure you can, save as much as you can before making the move, and keep saving after you move whenever you can. Since each person living outside the network has different needs and expenses, it is impossible to know how much you would need to save. However, a good rule of thumb is to have at least six wages saved.
Finally,
We hope that you now have a better understanding of what ‘living off the grid’ means and why so many people decide to pursue this lifestyle.
Don’t worry if your loved ones don’t accept this kind of lifestyle. You are the one living this eco-friendly lifestyle for more than one reason. It is important that you are comfortable with your choice because you will be saving tons of cash. And, when power outages come in the area, you will have a source of energy to depend on. Be stubborn about your choice, if this is what you really want to do.