Bio: Grace is a content writer and sustainability enthusiast who shares tips and the latest information on actionable ways to reduce our carbon footprints at www.tinyfootmovement.com
If you’ve ever thought about living off the grid, the good news is, it’s probably easier than ever to pick up, move somewhere out of the city, and start living more sustainably as a family.
That said, there are some key things to consider in order to make the transition successfully. Moving off the grid requires a ton of planning, no matter where in the world you are (though it will probably be a tad more involved if you want to move somewhere that doesn’t have off-grid communities already).
In places where real estate prices have gone through the roof, such as Australia and New Zealand, families and work-from-homers are discovering the possibilities that living off the grid can afford, both financially and also from a sustainability point of view.
So, if you’re intrigued by the idea of living off the grid, keep reading to find out what key essentials you should have a plan for first.
A power supply
Even if you do want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and not be on the Internet so much, you’ll still need some way to generate electricity.
You’ll have to power everyday appliances like:
- Your lights
- Your fridge (a biggie)
- Any small appliances (like a coffee maker or toaster oven)
- Chargers for your phone and computer
- And more…
For off-grid families, solar power is probably the most common method of being self-sufficient and creating your own electricity.
Not only is the cost of going solar decreasing steadily, there’s an ever-growing number of excellent portable options too, which is perfect if you’re planning to move around while off-grid:
You can learn more about solar energy and how to harness the power of the sun here.
A quick note on other forms of energy
Other than solar power, there are other sustainable forms of energy too, like wind and hydro.
If you happen to live near a stream or flowing water, there are micro hydropower setups that are designed for homes and allow you to generate clean energy.
Some folks even have both a solar power setup and also wind or hydro to supplement their electricity needs on days when there isn’t a lot of sun.
A place to live
Finding a good place to live is perhaps even more important when you want to live off-grid, as opposed to when you’re just living in an apartment or house.
The main reason for this is because there tends to be quite a few rules and regulations that’ll affect different aspects of your lifestyle. For instance, in some states, there are laws restricting your ability to collect rainwater. In others, you’ll need a license or permit in order to hunt for sustenance.
Certain states are definitely better for off-grid living than others, so make sure you’ve done your research on the off-grid laws once you’ve narrowed your shortlist of potential cities or states down!
Water supply
One of the biggest questions when it comes to an off grid must-haves is “How will you get water to drink?”
And then once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to think about where you’ll get water for showering, washing your clothes, and cleaning your food.
So, the first step is to think about where to get your drinking water. You have a few options:
- If you live in an area that gets a decent amount of rain, you could have a large rainwater collection tank (there are tanks that range from a few thousand gallons to a whopping ten thousand gallons, depending on what your family needs)
- You could drill a well—this would probably require a bit of preparation in terms of analyzing the water table where you live and getting permits
Food
Will you hunt? Trap? Grow your own food?
If you’re living off the grid, you could still by all means make a trip to the store to buy pantry basics and other food necessities from time to time.
But if you want to garden and grow your own vegetables, for instance, you’ll have to plan well in advance. Here are a few questions to get you started:
- How big of a garden plot do you have?
- Will you be able to support your crops with enough compost? (If you plan on raising livestock or having farm animals, skip the fertilizer and look into home-composting options like compost tumblers instead—it’s not only cheaper but also more environmentally friendly)
- Will you have enough water to spare to water your plants and crops?
- What’s your growing season like? (If you live in an area with really harsh winters and a short growing season, then relying on growing your own food may not be the best idea)
A toilet!
Okay, once you’ve figured out what to do about the essential essentials, it’s time to take a look at another very important part of off-grid life that will be very different from living in a traditional home: the toilet.
Most of us are used to flush toilets—but when you’re not hooked up to water services from the nearest town or city, it really becomes clear just how much water a flush toilet requires.
And an off-grid must-have is, of course, a non-flush toilet. Composting toilets are probably the most popular type of non-flush toilet, but did you know there are also other types of toilets, like incinerating toilets?
Let’s dig into the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
Composting toilet – pros:
- No energy source needed
- Relatively easy to hook up
- Homemade black gold — perfect for fertilizing your garden
- New composting toilet models today are actually odorless! (Provided you keep up with the relatively easy maintenance)
- Doesn’t use any water! (This is a big reason why composting toilets are becoming super popular in places like Australia which experience droughts)
Composting toilet – cons:
- You’ll have to empty it periodically and it’s not the most pleasant thing in the world to do
Incinerating toilet – pros:
- Waste gets incinerated into about a spoon of ash at a time, and all you have to do is empty the ash about once a month
- Like composting toilets, incinerating toilets also don’t use any water!
- Could help your case if you live in a mobile tiny home that’s off the grid and want to rent a parking spot from a landlord. Why? Because landlords typically will care about what you do with your home’s waste—and since all you get is ash, that’s relatively easy to deal with
Incinerating toilet – cons:
- You’ll need gas or an electricity source to power the toilet’s incinerating function!
- Because it does require energy, it’s not quite as environmentally friendly as a composting toilet
- Might cost you more in the long run because of the energy requirements / technology involved
Do you have your off-grid must-haves ready?
There you have it: five must-haves for off-the-grid life.
Start by making a plan for how you’ll take care of these five considerations first, then move on to your other needs for off-grid living, such as nifty solar gadgets, energy-efficient appliances, and winter-proofing measures.
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