How many live "off the grid?"

[Tsiyu]

I do not live off the grid presently but want to become self-sufficient power and water-wise soon.

We have a well, but depend on electricity to pump the water. I aim to buy a submersible that runs off a solar panel.

I have friends who live completely off the grid. Their life is a bit harder than most but very cozy and healthy.

Where are you in the scheme of things? Just curious as to lessons learned, pitfalls to avoid, things you plan to do.

[complain jane]

1. I'm sorry I can't help you with experience, but

I just wanted to say I admire your independence.

[Tsiyu]

7. Thanks, and it has its advantages

Trees and deer for neighbors but the crankers are bad this winter. Hopefully we are rooting them out. You have to be tough I suppose, and that's hard when you still want to be female.

[murielm99]

2. We have a well that runs off electricity, too.

We have a gas furnace, and everything else is electric.

We live on a hill, and get lots of wind. I would like to power this place with wind.

My husband says those types of windmills are very expensive. I have not really looked into it that much yet. But I still think we should see about becoming more self-sufficient.

I don't know any farmers around here who are off the grid. We need the electricity to dry our corn, power our milking machines, etc.

[Tsiyu]

9. I looked into wind power as well

My last farm was nothing but 37 acres of wind. Still, in most of my research, I found they suggested being in a Western state. I still believe there are pockets of good wind in the East (Mt. Washington, for example) you just have to build a gauge to determine if your locale is one of them.

I bought "Wind Power for Home and Business" by Paul Gipe and found it a great overview of wind energy. (ISBN 0-930031-64-4)

The folks I know off the grid have diesel generators to power computer, big screen TV, fridges. One couple I know used one gallon of diesel ( approximately) a day to power their home. They heated with wood and water came from a spring up off a cliff (gravity flow).

[autorank]

3. Urban/suburban off the grid.

It's a little different in the urbs/burbs but you can make a start:

basic cable (for sports)/broadband (no movies, etc.)
no local newspaper (unless your's is worth a shit)
no local radio (SIRIUS instead)
no local tv news, local programming
no mall shopping
buy local including farmer's markets
buy progressive (if it's not local)
recycle
use less crap
grow veggies in summer
talk to people
help people
read a lot

[complain jane]

4. I've always been a real lazy ass.

But I have to say, on the rare occasions that I have grown my own veggies/herbs I loved it. Whenever I buy produce or even meat from the big supermarkets I always feel like I'm buying junk food. And I hate malls and mass produced crap; I'd much rather buy handmade things or things that benefit a person or group, or that educate people/children and teach respect for the world & nature. I can't stand mainstream movies, most of them are garbage, I like things that make you think. And whenever I eat meat I'm always feeling bad towards the end about it, like I didn't really enjoy it that much to begin with and the fact that it's an animal does bother me. Underneath my addiction to fast thrills and shiny things I probably would do well living a more mindful life.

[Tsiyu]

10. You can form intentional communities anywhere

I like your list. It's a good place to start.

[ashling]

5. Not yet

we are planning to add some wind and solar to our energy supply, but may not go off the grid entirely.

There is an article in this months issue of BACK HOME (I think) on how to build a wind turbine using uses used auto parts, etc. I haven't had a chance to do more than look it over yet, but it looks interesting.

[Tsiyu]

11. Back Home is a good one

And I LOVE Mother Earth News. The only mags I could never throw out....

[InvisibleTouch]

6. Check out Gaiam for solar supplies:

http://www.gaiam.com

You may have to poke around their web site a bit. Do a search for "solar." They used to be called Real Goods, but changed names a while back. Among other eco-friendly household and gift items, they have a pretty good selection of solar supplies - or what I assume is a pretty good selection, not having actually used it myself. But I'm keeping them in mind, because it's my intention to live off the grid some day soon, too.

Although, correction - I have tried one of their items before. Ordered a small solar panel, several years ago, hoping I could run my laptop off it. It wasn't strong enough even to turn on the power. :( I returned it and got a refund without any problems or hassle, though. I imagine the technology has improved since then....

[Tsiyu]

12. I've had some limited experience with solar

When it comes to solar fence chargers and solar automatic gate openers the panels work great (if the horses can't reach them, that is).

I've actually requested a Real Goods catalog. Thanks for letting me know the name had changed. They had some good info in the catalog I had concerning inversion and battery banks, etc.

[Ready4Change]

8. Current house is fimly ON grid.

Not a good candidate for getting off grid, either. :(

I still want to do a minor install, just for grins and maybe powering a few lights during outages.

[Tsiyu]

13. Yeah, you really long for one when you've just bought groceries and

the power goes out. A generator, that is. You have to be careful wiring them in so that power doesn't inadvertently flow back the power co.'s way unannounced and fry a lineman.

But they have special switches to prevent that. Yikes.

[oneold1-4u]

14. Making use of the least

Some years ago a story in Mother Earth Mag. about a dairy in Scotland (I think) that used manure for creating methane and also heat for water. They used the methane for an energy source for electricity and their delivery vehicle. They then used the 12 volt power from that vehicle's batteries for some lights at night. You don't have to have a degree in engineering to know that your compost pile can create heat to keep your hot tub pretty warm and a large pile of manure would heat all the water you could use for house and barn. If you really want to get in the know, and see many of these things still in practice, get invited to a Mennonite farm or complex. If you can find copies of the Foxfire books you will have a wealth of "how to" without electricity. Think in the manner of Einstein that energy creates energy, and never runs out, but is mostly wasted! A wood range is very practical It will warm you, bake your bread and cookies, heat a hot water tank and cook your beans or stew all at the same time! That is not much of a waste!
My contact E is [e-mail]

[ashling]

16. There is a consortium of daries in

Northern California (I think . . . that is, if I remember correctly) that uses manure to generate methane.

[illflem]

15. On the grid but different

Our county owns a large hydroelectric dam that generates more power than the county uses, the excess is sold and the profit used to reduce the owner's (county citzens) energy costs. I pay 0.3¢/kWh, US average is 8¢, 100% electric home bill is always under $15 month.
Their are quite a few publicly owned utilities in the west, they're called PUDs (Public Ultility Distrists)

[Tsiyu]

17. We belong to an Electric Co=Op

And Tennessee's rates for electricity are comparatively LOW. I pay around $70 summer, $200 winter and of course we can purchase "Green Blocks" of electricity - in other words. blocks of kilowatt hours produced with eco-friendly methods.

[greendeerslayer]

18. No power lines here

Propane stove and fridge and lights. Solar powered laptop. Water via cistern is pumped off of truck batteries.

[Tsiyu]

19. Cool

What would you do differently The same?

[greendeerslayer]

21. jeez

I don't know. I'd save more money before taking the plunge. Eventually I'd like to go all solar including fridge and freezer, but that shit's expensive for an organic farmer.
What would I tell someone wanting to live off the grid? Good luck! You'd better have a high tolerance for chaos cause things break at the worst times and "adventure" occurs when least expected. It's addictive though. I could never move back even close to a city. I call it "Woodshock," extended living in the deep backwoods does strange thing to you after a few years. That's neither good nor bad, just the way it is.

[Fire]

20. Why ask this here?

I'm so off the grid that I don't even post here.

[paparush]

22. Most states have decent Tax Credits for the cost of PV, etc...

Worth checking in to as the credits can really help the bottom line.

[oscar111]

23. "solar ball" electricity for off-grid house a/c power.. works? Aussie site

sells it. Says it gives more electricity because it follows tilt of sun.

new gadget.. works?

http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/

would be most useful for birdflu chaos time.. looters would not see it as easily.. could hide it.. and outwit looters.