8.

U

YOU are the most important element!

you are the most important element!

You are the most important element of your off-grid house! 

The plan you create..

The land you choose..

The design decisions you make..

The efficiency steps you take..

The daily awareness you bring to your life..

You are the element that makes the house come alive and, in turn, it gives back to you so you can thrive!

How you live 
on-the-grid

On the grid you are dependent on complex systems outside your control. Power, water, heat and cool all travel to you through vast networks with multiple points of weakness and waste. When there is an interruption to the grid you may not have electricity, water, or even heat inside your home. Your home’s infrastructure may become damaged and living inside it can become hazardous to your health, even fatal. You, other utility customers, and all taxpayers financially support these massive systems. You are beholden to these systems for the daily comfort and functionality of your life. You have no choice. Or do you???

How you live

off-the-grid:

Off-the-grid you are independent and empowered!  You are in control of providing for your needs.  You are your own utility company.  Your house functions when the grid goes down.  You don’t pay utility bills. 


You are mindful of how you live.  You operate your shelter to perform thermally by adjusting blinds, operable windows, and passive ventilation systems.  You conserve power, but you also have enough for your needs and wants.  You conserve water, but you have enough.  You maintain your systems with routine checks and service and you learn how to troubleshoot any issues.  You engage with your house and it gives back more that you put in.  You sleep easy at night knowing that a storm, computer glitch, cyberattack, or unpaid bill will not upend your existence for days, weeks or longer. 


You are excited about this way of living and share your experience with friends and family.  You show them and the world that off-grid living is not for a small segment of society. It is for anyone!  It is a way of aligning your lifestyle with your values while making a positive impact on the planet.  You have a choice.  You are resilient!  You are strong!  You are in charge!

How you live relates to the other Elements of an Off-Grid Home:

COMFORTABLE SHELTER

Comfortable Shelter icon that looks like a periodic element.

You choose to live in a shelter that heats and cools itself naturally and is made with healthy, strong materials. Your mental and physical health are improved by this shelter. You and your family thrive!

onsite power

Onsite Power that looks like a periodic element.

You choose onsite power production using clean, renewable energy. You produce, store and use your own electricity. You do not have an electric bill. You take comfort knowing you will have power when the grid fails.

Onsite water

Onsite Water icon that looks like a periodic element.

You collect, store, and filter your water. It is clean and free of contaminants. You treat it as a precious resource, but you have enough for your needs. You have access to this water when you need it, whether or not the grid is working.

Water Recycling

Water Recycling icon that looks like a periodic element.

You reuse your water as many times as possible, extending your onsite water supply and growing plants and food along the way.  

hot water

Hot Water icon that looks like a periodic element.

You plan for the sun to do the majority of your water heating and are aware of times of day and changes in weather conditions that affect how much hot water you have access to. Solar hot water is not unlimited so you will learn to tailor your use to its availability.

poo resolution

Poo Resolution icon that looks like a periodic element.

 You take responsibility for your own poo. You don’t mix it with fresh water and create a giant volume of human waste. You don’t send it away through pipes to be treated in a giant facility with machines and chemicals.  

off-grid cooking

Off-Grid Cooking icon that looks like a periodic element.

 You use a combination of small appliances and a solar oven to minimize your use of fuel. You may also choose to use an induction cooktop if your system is sized to handle it. You may have biogas if it is appropriate for your situation. You use your propane stove if needed.  

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