Is it possible to live " off grid " ?

Answer 1

As long as you pay your taxes  

Answer 2

Yes.  At least off the power grid.  I wouldn't want to sever internet, otherwise I couldn't spew on Yahoo! answers.

Live up north where air conditioning is not needed.  In a trailer with a big honking propane tank.  You can heat, cook, and run a small fridge off propane.  Some solar cells and batteries for a little electricity to charge a notebook computer and LED lights.

If you really are into roughing it, chop wood for heating your trailer and water ... but still need the propane for the fridge.

So yes, very possible.  The homeless do it all the time.

Answer 3

it's possible but more comfortable i find on the grid.

especially to the right corner...

by the way, what's the grid?

Answer 4

I did for 14 years growing up.   Don't really want to do that again, but could at any time if I had to.

Answer 5

Yes it is. Of course most localities will not let you actually not be connected to the grid, the same goals can be accomplished by being connected and supplying your home with solar energy, which will be used first. My house actually puts energy into the grid rather than taking from it!

Answer 6

I live in Papua New Guinea and 80% of the population live off grid because the grid simply does not come anywhere near them, in fact, what grid? Even those who are supposedly on the grid find it necessary to invest in lots of candles, kerosene lamps and batteries as power outages are frequent and lengthy (often a daily even). So is it possible, sure. Is it economical? Probably not, as most power suppliers sell you power far cheaper than you can produce yourself. (Include the cost of capital to buy those solar cells or wind turbine, or the time invested in building it. ) Some people may be able to produce electricity cheaper than buying it, but not many. But most people who buy power can reduce their consumption to a tiny fraction of what they currently use. Try converting all lights to high efficiency ones, compact fluorescent or even better LEDs

Make sure lights and other appliances are switched off when not in use. insulate your home properly. Use a fan to cool rather than an aircon. Use a fuel fired heat source rather than electric heating (Bio fuel would be good, solar better).

Answer 7

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live completely, 100% “off of the grid and are completely self sufficient”

The house is built utilizing natures natural elements, in the shape of an octagon with 8ft wide arch doors on every wall to catch every angle of wind (typical 4 sided homes have half the chance as one with 8 sides. A circle being the most efficient design). Woodburning stoves, solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet.

We also built many green small cabins on the ranch that we offer to family, friends and our on-site off-grid workshop guests, including one straw bale, one papercrete, earth bag and adobe, one cob and cordwood, one underground and rammed earth, one log and post and beam and one rock. Each one actually started as a test for what the main house would be and were later finished and turned into guest cabins. I later wrote a guide on how to build with alternative materials using alternative methods for next to nothing.

We raise meat and milk goats, chickens for meat and eggs, ducks for meat and eggs, trap havilina (wild boar pig), rabbit, quail. brew our own beer from home grown products, preserve our fruits, vegetables, etc. smoke and jerky the meat, make our own soap, cheese.

There are no utility lines, no water lines, no roads, tv, cell service, etc. on our ranch. EVERYTHING needed is produced here. All electricity comes from 27 solar panels, 2 main wind gens and a back hydrogen generator if needed (typically we can last 9 days with all luxuries of sunless windless weather, hasn't happened yet). Water is caught and storaged from the rain. Hot water is made with solar batch water heaters with an on-demand hydrogen hot water heater as backup. Even our vehicles use alternative energy (2 hydrogen trucks, 1 EV electric vehicle converted). Because of this we have no bills, no debt and no mortgage.

Anyone interested can check it out at..

www agua-luna com

I believe this is the first step anyone can make “help the environment”. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

my home has all the comforts listed above plus some. we live very comfortable without effecting the environment. just saying that tol et you know it's possible. you may not want to go as extreme as me and my family but anywhere in between is something.

Without getting to in depth here, Using alternative fuels in your vehicles and harnessing your own electricity from the sun, water, earth and wind are the 2 are key elements in making a green transition and erasing your carbon footprint.

here's a calculator to find out how much of a green impact your making (carbon footprint)

http://www.conservation.org/act/live_gre...

if you'd like to make your next step feel free to contact me personally at www agua-luna com

I've been installing home made Solar panels. Solar stoves, Solar batch and inline hot water heaters. Solar radiant heating. Solar home heating and AC, along with home made wind gens and other alternative energy items for the last 3 years.

You can even make the above projects on site with simple parts from the local hardware stores or auto stores or junk yards. For more info check out some guides I wrote / compiled on how to DIY www agua-luna com

Again these projects can be accomplished anywhere by anyone.

if you absolutely can't do anything in your home at least you can put alternative fuels in your car. most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, and nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.

In fact your probably even driving an ethanol car and didn't even know it.

The trick is finding fuel.

I've been producing biofuel for about 3 years now, it's not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) and some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen and use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..

www agua-luna com

as for recyling the best way i've found without taking money from your won pocket is to join a free freecycle group in your area or visit the habitat for humanity.

If you’d like help in making your self sufficient steps, feel free to contact me directly. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com

on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others “help the environment”.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m  

Answer 8

YES you can and it can be cheap and to do. I found some great information but in a magazine I get called Mother Earth News.

It tells you how to build solar panels, wind mills to make your own energy, how to collect rain water, organic gardening and much more

Answer 9

yeah, of course it is. I've already started to try this for the last 2 months and its working a treat.

I purchased a guide on how to build a wind generator and solar panels that can be fitted to my home. After having my wind turbine fitted for 2 months I've already reduced my electricity bill substantially.

I reviewed the whole process on my blog: http://theearth4energyreview.blogspot.co...

Answer 10

It is possible and many do it. You can use solar for heat and hot water as well as electric, but you would need lots of solar panels to completely handle the electric in most of todays homes. This company sells off grid as well as grid tie syststems.

http://www.sunpowernation.com

Answer 11

Yes it is.

Answer 12

a hundred years ago, most everyone was "off the grid".

but things are surely easier today.

and let's not confuse that spammer, who wants you to send him money, with real people.

one might note that having internet access implies that he is connected.

now someone's going to bring up wireless.

get over it -- it's spam.

Answer 13

It is possible to do, but for many it isn't a practicle solution. It would be difficult to do within normal society. I think it is far more interesting and fun to see how much you can reduce your impact while appearing to live an "average" lifestyle. Reduce your energy use, your waste, your consumption.