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Just wondering how those, who don't have a lot of money, are living off grid. How do you do your hot water, showers, what are some of the biggest challenges.
You need to read along with this thread. https://www.city-data.com/forum/tenne...tennessee.html
We've been reading and seeing pictures Lisa puts up once a week describing building their off grid home and how things are going. I'll warn you! It's habit forming! Quite a few people have started reading it and say they have read it all the way to present time. So far that's just 156 pages!
The one couple I know that live off the grid spent a lot of money on their equipment and still have to live with many limitations.
I do know one guy that lives in a cabin on his horse ranch without infrastructure or even running water. He has a generator for when he must have power but manages without most of the time. Brings in his drinking water, is a member of a gym a few miles into town where he showers, and washes clothes at a washateria. So while he still uses public infrastructure his home and a good portion of his life is off grid... and relatively cheap.
There's many ways to go off grid...from 19th century style no electricity, oil or gas lighting, woodstove for heating/cooking and even hot water, hand pump for well...to solar, wind, etc., and all the modern conveniences using energy efficient appliances, to everywhere in between...figure out what you can afford and see if that lifestyle is acceptable to you.
I live in a newer condo in the city and all I can think of is that I use the washer to wash the clothes, but I air dry all the clothes instead of using the dryer. I suppose I have a long way to go to living off the grid!
You need to read along with this thread. https://www.city-data.com/forum/tenne...tennessee.html
We've been reading and seeing pictures Lisa puts up once a week describing building their off grid home and how things are going. I'll warn you! It's habit forming! Quite a few people have started reading it and say they have read it all the way to present time. So far that's just 156 pages!
As most of you have pointed out, there are many ways to go off grid, what I'm trying to find out, is what are most doing to accomplish this? Like most things in life, if money is not an issue, it is easy to do just about anything. If you want to do it economically, then you may have to work at it.
My thinking is, if you don't have too, why reinvent the wheel, just use others experiences.
I have read how some of the wealthy are doing it, but how are others getting it done?
Off the Grid...
I embrace electricity and wouldn't turn my back on it for a second...One can talk about backups and alternatives but there is no better backup to living off the grid than having a homestead that is connected to the grid..Jumping into a homestead has many challanges and rewards but why constrict or limit oneself from the get go? I would use the cheapest power available in time and money..One should consider the matter of cooking as an example..Wood stove,propane stove,electric stove or a microwave. It's summer and you want a cup of tea with breakfast...Wood stove needs to be fired up,that takes time spent in wood harvesting and the unwanted heat after the meal has been prepared...Now that would all be fine if it was winter and the heat was desirable but a propane stove or electric is a better fit..
It all sounds nice,,green,off the grid,self sustainable ect. but in practice could be a target but shouldn't be considered an absolute.
I'll take an old farm that has structures and electricity,along with readily available water and start from there...You have to live thru the day to see tomorrow...Whatever that tomorrow is can be shaped.
I was born in a rural part of Tenn and as a child saw electricity come into our home, It was terrific to have but was never relied upon,,We had grown up not relying on the grid,,but certainly didn't disqualify it
just because it was grid origin energy. It simply made for a better life..In itself it was the more perfect form of reasoning...Just saying is that if possible starting off in an off grid persuit is best served if electricity is in the equation.
When your ready,,,pull the plug if you wish,but remember it's use as a backup is there,no one turns their backs on a backup,not if the show is about living off the grid....
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Something like 250,000 folks off grid in USA
