Off grid living is increasing becoming popular due to rising costs of living and polluted cites. In today's world, modern living can be super stressful. From the 9-5 grind which doesn't motivate you to the continued rising cost of living.
Then there is the social media pressure. Where we feel like we have to keep up with everyone else's highlights. Before we know it, we’ve wasted hours scrolling and our brains feel cluttered from constant consumerism.
How lovely would it be to escape all this. To come home to a place where you are disconnected from the grid and connected to nature every day.
Living off grid allows for this lifestyle. Although planning and capital is needed, the return on investment is definitely worth it.
What is living off grid?
Instead of being dependent on the usual infrastructures of urban living, you are self-sufficient. By living off-grid, you are reconnect with nature through supplying your own power, water and growing your own food. This way of life has a minimal carbon footprint on the planet alongside providing you with complete freedom.
Why you need to live off grid
Generate your own electricity
When you live off grid, you are in charge of generating your own electricity. Wind and solar are some of the most popular choices when generating your own electricity. Solar being the most popular as you can do it anywhere.
When investing in generating your own electricity it will be a big investment. Setting up the unit can cost a lot of money. But after a few years you will see a return on your investment as you will be free from energy bills. You are also doing your bit to help the environment as the use of solar or wind doesn't burn fossil fuels.
Wind turbines use wind to make electricity. Wind turns the propeller blades of a turbine around a rotor. Which then spins a generator to create electricity.
Solar energy uses the sun’s light and heat to generate renewable or ‘green’ power. The most common form of solar energy is harnessed by solar panels. You’ll see them on top of houses and other buildings. The cells are created from semiconductor materials. When the sun’s rays hit the cells, it loosens electrons from their atoms. This allows the electrons to flow through the cell and generate electricity.
Off grid living gives you flexibility to live anywhere
Because you're not connected to the grid, you can choose to live anywhere you like. If you want to move somewhere remote out of the city, or on a beach, living off grid allows that.
As long as you have your acquired land, living off grid allows you that flexibility.
In some countries you can even live off grid within the city, if you don't want to feel too disconnected.
In developing countries around the world where the grid isn’t too stable, the rules around living off grid in the city is quite flexible, as long as you have your land and building permit to build your pretty much free to build how you want. Or if you can buy a home and put measures in place to make it function as an off grid home.
Off grid living are better for the environment
Living off grid is overall better for the environment. You will learn about other ways to power your home other than relying on fossil fuels. The more of us that live off grid than the less people that are reliant on the burning of fossil fuels.
You become more environmentally conscious
Living off grid makes you more environmentally conscious. Most likely you will build your home from scratch. When self building an off grid home you will choose greener materials with a much lower carbon footprint. By living off the grid, it teaches you how to become environmentally responsible by gaining practical knowledge through working on the land, growing vegetables, rearing animals, making useful things with your hands, conserving and recycling materials, and the use of alternate fuels.
Longevity & Return on investment
Unlike buying a home with a mortgage, building off grid can take large upfront investment. You will be funding the build yourself, funding the infrastructure of your home( power, water, waste). If you decide to grow what you eat, you will need to invest in a small scale farm.
These initial investments will not pay off until years later but eventually you will be self-sufficient and your investment can even start to generate you some income.
Grow what you eat
Growing what you eat is very fulfilling. Off grid living encourages this and you get to know the exact process of how your food is grown by doing it yourself.
Producing food is big business. To grow, make, transport, store and cook our food is an energy intensive process and one, which generate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Food production is estimated to account for 31% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. By growing your own food you can cut down on food miles, trips to the market and wasteful packaging, all of which generate harmful emissions that contribute to climate change.
Growing your own food can also encourage you to make dietary changes that are overall better for your health.
Reliable water
Not being connected to the grid also means that you are in charge of providing your own water. Tap water isn't always the best for consumption or for our skin as it is full of chemicals. Harvesting and filtering our own water is healthy for our bodies and for the environment.
Rainwater harvesting is the technique of collecting filtered water that falls on the roof of a building and storing it in large tanks ready for re-use. With water shortages in some parts of the world becoming common and the continually increasing demand for water consumption, more and more households are realizing the benefits of harvesting rainwater.
Gray water harvesting is a process where we can reuse used water at home, for example collecting shower, sink or washing machine water and reusing it to flush toilets.
Living debt free
When you live off grid, you are completely self-sufficient. You power your own home, you take care of your own waste and provide your own water. Once you are not connected to the grid there is no need for energy bills. Therefore you are living essentially debt free. Also when living off grid, you get a mindset shift. You are more connected to nature, so consumerism and wanting to be like everyone else isn't a priority.
Connect with nature
As Humans we are at our best when we are connected to nature. The hustle and bustle of city life or just everyday life takes a toll on the mind, body and soul. Imagine waking up to nature every day, no pollution, no concrete skyscrapers, no busy communes, no noise and only eating fresh grown produce.
Living off the grid ensures you are always in touch with nature and it guarantees one of the most fulfilling and happy lifestyles. Besides, connecting with the natural world promises a profound and satisfying rural life.
With everything going on in the world it seems like a perfect time to start thinking of off grid living. Things are rapidly changing and a lot of us are doing work where we can work remotely. To be in the cities for work is no longer as necessity thanks to modern technology.
Would you consider living off grid? I would love to see your thoughts in the comments.
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